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Mysterious Extraction of Trinidadian Firearms dealer from Barbados

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Brent Thomas

There is a story brewing which involves the ‘abduction’ of an alleged Trinidadian arms dealer from Barbados. The blogmaster has not been following closely to do justice to the matter largely because the BU household decided to retreat to Cattlewash for the long weekend. However, the matter has raised a few times by members of the BU family reflected in messages to BU inbox.

Here are three links to the story for your consumption and discussion.

Firearms dealer granted $800,000 bail for possession of explosives after fleeing to Barbados

A firearms dealer was granted $800,000 bail with surety when he appeared before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 7th October 2022). The accused was charged with possession of prohibited explosives and firearms.

He is expected to re-appear at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on the 3rd November 2022.

https://youthere1.weebly.com/home/firearms-dealer-granted-800000-bail-for-possession-of-explosives-after-fleeing-to-barbados

Gary Griffith seeks answers on firearms dealer’s extraction from Barbados
Judge stays criminal charges against firearms dealer

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101 responses to “Mysterious Extraction of Trinidadian Firearms dealer from Barbados”

  1. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved. Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    Pacha…it so serves these right, they believe they own an island, to keep SO CORRUPT it cannot function anymore unless there is a complete overhaul….while their stupid little enablers help them destroy the people and island..

    What a mess….for the loyal Slaves to wallow in..

    Weeee did warn that these types of things are quite possible given historical events…imagine how foolish they all must feel now, if they are capable of feeling anything at all…we can only laugh.

  2. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Waru
    As a technical matter – there is no republican constitution. Agreed.

    But has the regime, as said by Caswell Franklyn, not had the definitive word on this, via an amendment, which he voted against?

    The absence of a writen constitution has never proved problematic for the UK even if Franklyn, and this writer trust his judgemrnt, is wrong.

    Our problem rests entirely with the manner in which the cart was put before the horse, for no apparent gain but for the spurious intent of the dictator.

  3. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishibg Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved. Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishibg Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    Pacha…it gets much worse, but what i will tell you is, they spoke about some wishy washy document but no one can produce it since it does not exist….Caswell got set up to distract from what’s going on.

    Dont know if you go on 789 Moving Forward i think it’s now called, a whatsapp group…there is a voice note circulatibg that is shedding light on certain things regarding traitor bloodlines, pretenders, liars who rush to the front in politics even though lacking commonsense and dumb as rocks..

    ….i have long questioned certain things, particularly since recent reveals including attempts on my life….it all has to come out in the wash.

  4. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved. Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    Tiu Pacha..

    Once you listen to that voice note, certain things fall into place…..more to come.

    They could hate until they drop dead, they are the ones going down.

  5. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Talking bout guns.

    Indeed today is the anniversary of the end of WW2.

    The historical events at the Reichstag by the Soviets saw the end of the Third Reich, as a formal consideration.

    Of course, nearly 30 million Soviets, mainly Russians, lay dead, of nearly 100 million killed, on all sides, as fascism was given a glasing blow.

    As compared. Less than 500 thousand American and British soldiers died. Many of the British were colonials. Many of the Americans were Afrikans living under fascism at home.

    Since then, especially now, cancel culture attempts a rewriting of history.

    It’s with amazement, that such a signal event is allowed to pass without even a mention as we talk trivia about guns.

    That the country which shouldered an inordinate burden in the destruction of the Third Reich is today, again, being called upon to do the same again.

    And we ignore the truth about the Western powers which have always supplied the fascist guns.

    It’s a day when Russian guns, flame thrower missiles, drones, hyperbaric bombs, laser guided missiles and a preponderance of artillery shells are destroying another fascist regime in Ukraine.

    Indeed, today alone the Russians have killed over 1000 fascists Ukrainians, NATO, mercenaries and others as if the above events of 1945 never happened.

    This resurrection of familiar guns of war is not history repeating itself. That would be far too simplictic a rendering.

    The truth is that the fascist guns were never silenced. Indeed, the Western powers, primarily the American and the British, continues supporting the fascist immediately after the Reichstag event as an anvil against the USSR.

    Recall, that between 1945 and the early 1960s Ukrainian fascists were supported by the West in the conduct of terrorist operations within the former USSR. They killed ten of thousands of Soviet citizens.

    Under operation “paperclip” ten of thousands of Nazis were brought to America under several guises. These were easily deployed within an “exceptionalist” state apparatus well known to them.

    That these same gunmen are at it again should be unsurprising. Professor Horne, in his book which outlines the fundamental nature of an American fascist state, eloquently constructs a nexus which locates the United States of America as the fountainhead of fascism worldwide.

    Finally it’s with deep regret, humility, that this writer bows to the heroic sacrifices of Russisn peoples. A re-ordered world should have others shouldering the heaviest burdens. Wishing that in the chattle slavery epoch a country like Russia had come to the aid of Afrikan peoples.

  6. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved. Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    History holds the key to everything, unfortunately weee dont pay as much attention as we should….

    Most lost the art of deep thought, now their heads are filled with shit….and political rubbish.

  7. Jah Ovah Avatar
    Jah Ovah

    “Who is this singer and what is the song
    Dubbing Jah · King Tubby · Bunny Lee ·”

    It’s Ok I found it
    thanks for the help

  8. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Glancing

  9. David Avatar
    David

    The government of Trinidad plans to appeal this matter.

    https://trinidadexpress.com/opinion/letters/more-to-brent-thomas-issue-than-meets-the-eye/article_23491306-e87f-11ed-bae2-17d61779a369.html

  10. David Avatar
    David

    #nationnew finally caught up with this story. Front page news.

  11. Frank Avatar
    Frank

    They had to wait and see how our local government was responding

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Frank

    If as reported a RSS plane was used maybe we need to hear from its head.

  13. David Avatar
    David

    Trinidadian ‘taken from hotel in Barbados’
    by MARIA BRADSHAW mariabradshaw@nationnews. com

    A HIGH COURT JUDGE in Trinidad and Tobago (T& T) has strongly condemned the actions of police in Barbados for what is being called their “abduction” of well-known Trinidadian firearms dealer, Brent Thomas.
    In a landmark decision, Justice Devindra Rampersad gave the censure in his April 25 judgement on a constitutional motion brought by Thomas’ attorneys.
    “The arrest, detention and forcible abduction within, and the removal of the first claimant from, the jurisdiction of Barbados to this country, at the behest of the state of Trinidad and Tobago acting through its servants and/ or agents, were grossly abusive, unconstitutional, unlawful, unnecessary and disproportionate and in particular contravened the first claimant’s constitutional rights . . . ,” he said.
    Thomas, 61, was arrested in Trinidad last September 29, but later released without charge. He then flew to Barbados on his way to Miami to seek medical treatment but was snatched from his hotel room by Barbados’ police, taken into custody and hours later handed over to Trinidad police at Grantley Adams International Airport.
    On his arrival back in Trinidad, he was charged with possession of a series of weapons, including grenades and rifles.
    In the ruling which has made headline news in the twin-island republic, the judge dismissed the criminal proceedings against Thomas while declaring that the Trinidad police’s actions at every stage of the investigation were “unlawful, unconstitutional and arbitrary”.
    He has ordered the first defendant, Trinidad’s attorney general, to pay Thomas cost and damages to be assessed.
    Yesterday, Trinidad’s National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds gave notice that they would be filing an appeal while opposition legislator, Dr Roodal Moonilal, said the Barbados Government had questions to answer about the court’s findings.
    “Who gave the authority? Today we depend yet again on the new republic of Barbados to bring disclosure, to bring transparency and to explain to the people of Trinidad and Tobago because our government will not,” he added.
    Barbados’ Attorney General Dale Marshall told the MIDWEEK NATION yesterday he was informed of the outcome of the case last Friday by his legal counterparts in Trinidad.
    “I really can’t comment on what information was put before the court on which the court made its ruling. I have seen the report. I have seen several stories in the Trinidad media. I have asked the Commissioner of Police to look into the matter and give me a report,” he said.
    Asked if he had prior knowledge of the matter, Marshall said: “I had no knowledge about this.”
    In the motion, Thomas’ attorney submitted that he was forcibly returned to Trinidad from Barbados on a plane owned by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
    In his statement to the court, Thomas said he boarded a flight on October 3, 2022, to Barbados where his intention was to thereafter connect to Miami for medical purposes and then return to Trinidad.
    Around 3 a.m. on October 5, while asleep in his hotel in Barbados, he said he was jolted awake by shouts of “police” and banging on his hotel door. Upon opening the door, he observed a large group of men dressed in black and armed with guns. He was placed in handcuffs, put in a police vehicle and taken to a station. He added he was then placed in a small cage at the back of a police van and left there until midday – not given any food, water or an opportunity to place a telephone call. Furthermore, he said no explanation was provided as to why he was being detained.
    Thomas continued that around midday, the Barbadian officers transported him to another police station where he was kept in a cell until 5 p.m. He was then taken to the airport where he was put on a small plane and taken back to Trinidad by two senior Trinidadian police officers.
    In reference to Thomas’ “abduction” by Barbados police and suggestions from the defendants that constitutional rights and/ or their enforcement did not extend to actions which took place on foreign soil, the judge stated: “There is no doubt that Barbados is a Commonwealth territory for the purpose of the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act CAP 12:04 as defined in the Schedule to the Order made under Section 3 of the Act.
    “Further, Barbados has enacted its own international obligations in relation to extradition in its Extradition Act, 1979. Therefore, the rule of law and due process of law would have been easily attainable by following the process thereunder. However, that was not the process followed at all.
    “Instead, it is undoubtedly an inescapable inference that the Barbados police force detained the first claimant upon the request of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, whether through ASP Birch or otherwise.
    “There was no other reason given as to why the Barbados police force would have detained him because there was no evidence of any illegality committed by the first defendant while in Barbados such as would have rendered him liable for arrest and detention,” Justice Rampersad wrote.
    “The very fact, though, that ASP Birch went to collect the first claimant in Barbados while he was detained there supports the obvious conclusion that he was instrumental in that unlawful detention and removal from Barbados. Even if he was not directly involved in the request to the Barbados police force, he was clearly involved in its execution . . . .
    “That scheme was plainly unconstitutional. Further, by taking custody and control of the first claimant in Barbados and bringing him back within the jurisdiction to then charge him, the breach of due process was crystallised under the Constitution.”
    Thomas was represented by attorneys Fyard Hosein, Devesh Maharaj and Sasha Bridgemohansingh and instructed by Cheyenne Lugo.
    Yesterday, Jose Young, one of the attorneys who represented Thomas in his habeas corpus application to secure his release from detention, said he was not at liberty to discuss any potential legal action against Barbados.
    However, he stated: “The citizens of this country as well as citizens of Barbados have the right to know how this happened and how the [authorities] and police of both countries collaborated to abduct an innocent man on his way to medical treatment. As the judgement rightly said, this sort of behaviour has no place in civilised society.”

    Source: Nation

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Treaty ‘may have been triggered’
    Comissiong: Caricom agreement in place for arrest warrants
    by COLVILLE MOUNSEY colvillemounsey@nationnews.com

    WITH QUESTIONS SWIRLING around the involvement of Barbadian police in what a Trinidadian judge described as the “abduction” of a businessman, Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong says mechanisms exist within CARICOM which could validate the actions of local lawmen.
    Last week in Trinidad and Tobago, Justice Devindra Rampersad strongly condemned the actions of police in Barbados for what is being called their “abduction” of well-known Trinidadian firearms dealer, Brent Thomas.
    Thomas, 61, was arrested in Trinidad last September 29, but later released
    without charge. He then flew to Barbados on his way to Miami to seek medical treatment but was snatched from his hotel room by members of the Barbados Police Service, taken into custody and hours later handed over to Trinidad police at Grantley Adams International Airport.
    Legal leg
    However, Comissiong told the DAILY NATION that the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty could give local law enforcement a legal leg to stand on.
    A CARICOM Arrest Warrant may be issued for the arrest and surrender of a person who is reasonably suspected of having committed an applicable offence; is charged with an applicable offence; or has fled the jurisdiction having been convicted of an applicable offence. The warrant must be issued by a High Court judge within the jurisdiction of the participating member.
    Making it clear that he was not aware of whether this mechanism was triggered in the case in question, Comissiong said were it used, it would have negated the need for extradition procedures.
    “We have something called the CARICOM Arrest Warrant and the CARICOM Arrest Treaty, which treats to this matter of CARICOM member states facilitating each other in arresting nationals who may be wanted in a sister member state.
    “This was ratified in 2018, so CARICOM does have a legal instrument to facilitate this entire process. I am not going to comment on the specific case, but the CARICOM Arrest Treaty pertains to persons that are to be charged in a CARICOM member state or where they are wanted or fugitives from justice,” he said.
    The ambassador pointed out that this measure was only applicable for certain types of crimes.
    “This treaty does have its built-in checks and balances where the matter needs to come to a very high governmental authority, inclusive of a national judge. So the main point is that CARICOM does have a mechanism to deal with this type of issue, I cannot tell you if it would deal with this specific case, but once it is triggered you would not need to go through extradition proceedings,” he said.
    His position was supported by a high-ranking Government official who explained that the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), to which Barbados is a signatory, is a mutual assistance treaty that facilitates this type of joint action.
    “IMPACS, which has remained unmentioned in all of this, is the agreement on crime and security. Effectively what happens is that one country signals to IMPACS that they need the assistance as a kind of a mutual assistance treaty and the other country responds. I believe that there would have been some formalities because it would not make sense that you can just walk
    into a man’s country and walk back out,” the source said.
    In yesterday’s MIDWEEK NATION, Attorney General Dale Marshall said he was informed about the outcome of the case last Friday by his legal counterparts in Trinidad.
    “I have seen the report. I have seen several stories in the Trinidad media. I have asked the Commissioner of Police to look into the matter and give me a report,” he said.
    Asked if he had prior knowledge of the matter, Marshall said: “I had no knowledge about this.”
    When contacted yesterday, Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce said he could not comment on the issue as he had already submitted his report to Marshall.
    Pressed further on whether the CARICOM Arrest Warrant was triggered in Thomas’ case, Boyce said that to respond to this query would be “speaking out of turn”.
    However, senior attorney Michael Lashley KC said the country was owed answers in a timely manner and that the Commissioner needed to say where the authorisation for the arrest would have come from.
    “I am concerned about the actions or inactions of the police and the fact that the Attorney General [Dale Marshall] seemed surprised, because he should get debriefings and information on anything that the police does regarding the arrest of a nonnational on Barbadians shores. This is also an indictment on the police and I think that they need to deal with this matter swiftly and to clear the air on it.
    “I think this also raises some questions on whether there should be an independent body looking into this matter,” Lashley, a former Government minister in a previous Democratic Labour Party administration, said.
    Meanwhile, in a media statement yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General Reginald Armour said in relation to the Brent Thomas ruling: “I acknowledge that the findings of the judge in that matter raise serious concerns as to the constitutional propriety of actions of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. “Insofar as I am responsible for the defence of constitutional propriety of agents of the state, and on the matter having been brought to my attention, I have asked to be fully briefed on the facts of this matter and requested urgent advice on the merits of an appeal from lead counsel representing the Attorney General,” he added.

    Source: Nation

  15. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    The explainable screw-up:
    They believe they can explain away anything. Apologists take turns at throwing stuff on the wall.

    Would not be surprise if the final outcome in Trinidad is in conflict with what is stated in Barbados.

  16. Mystical Magical Man Avatar
    Mystical Magical Man

    It is distressing and painful to see how we lurch from situation to situation without having a clue of what is happening. PR stunts and speeches cannot hide the fact that we are failing on several fronts. Our ministries/officials seem to be constantly making missteps and then using ” was unaware” as an explanation.

    We then have apologists rushing out with the sole intent of confusing the audience. Their explanations can be beautifully worded, but their words mean nothing or lack the truth. John Public must stop falling for these useless utterances.

    It appears that some of us should keep silent in the interest of the nation. The veiled hint of being unpatriotic or of not wishing the best for the nation is one of the instruments used to enforce this silence.

    We are supposed to be awed by speeches and press release with pictures. But where they use the caption “the PM and the President” all I see is “the borrower and the lender”.

    Our mathematics is a simple one and does not utilize fractions, thus we see Barbados and France as nations; we see Mia and the French Prime Minister as leaders. We seem unable to assign different weights to two elements in the same category or with similar titles. We often explain this shortcoming by claiming that “we punch above our weight”. That phrase should be retired (permanently).

    We are reluctant to give credit to some people. We would close our eyes and pretend to be asleep until our knights in shing armor comes charging up the hill. Don’t you get it? Can’t you see that our knights in borrowed armor are even more clueless than we are? Can’t you see that there is no one charging to the rescue? Our knights are stumbling and fumbling worse than a drunkard.

    The Good Lord Knows they cannot help themselves; it is time for us to admit “they cannot help us”.

  17. Concerned citizen Avatar
    Concerned citizen

    @David how many Bajan politicians current and former who on a watch list. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/04/25/news/guyana/ministry-ps-had-been-on-us-watch-list-source/

  18. David Avatar
    David

    @Concerned Citizen

    How would persons on a US watchlist be known?

  19. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    How many of you knew of ” something called the CARICOM Arrest Warrant and the CARICOM Arrest Treaty” ?

  20. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    It is a matter of record.

    https://caricom.org/treaties/caricom-arrest-warrant-treaty/

  21. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ David,

    good to know in case I decide to become a criminal. lol

  22. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    @Commander Hants
    By now you should have your Canadian passport.
    When arrested in Barbados, the only phrases you should know are
    (1) Je ne parle pas Anglais. Je parle Francais.
    (2) Je veut parler à l’ambassade ou le consulat canadien.
    I want to talk to the Canadian embassy

  23. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    @ King David,

    Antigua is in the news – yet again!

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/06/businessman-mehul-choksi-who-alleges-indian-kidnap-plot-wins-antiguan-court-ruling

  24. David Avatar
    David

    TLSN

    All countries deep into the news from time to time, sone more that others, even your adopted lands?

  25. David Avatar
    David

    T&T to appeal Thomas ruling
    PORT OF SPAIN – Trinidad’s government has filed an appeal in the case involving its national Brent Thomas who a High Court judge said had been abducted by law enforcement authorities in Barbados and brought back to Port of Spain to face criminal charges.
    The appeal, lodged at the Court of Appeal last Friday, is seeking to set aside the orders of the judge and to have the costs of the appeal paid by Thomas.
    It was lodged by the Chief State Solicitor, a department of the Attorney General, who is the instructing attorney for the Attorney General.
    In ruling against the State, Justice Devindra Rampersad found that the detention and transporting of Thomas from Barbados to Trinidad and Tobago via a non-commercial (Regional Security System) aircraft constituted an “abduction”. He added that Thomas’ constitutional rights were infringed.
    The State, in its grounds of appeal, is arguing that constitutional protection offered by the constitution does not extend extra-territorially, and is therefore not applicable to events taking place in Barbados and to the Barbados police.
    Thomas was first arrested on September 29, 2022, and later released.
    He was re-arrested in Barbados, from where he said he intended to travel to Miami to meet his cardiologist, and returned forcibly to Trinidad and Tobago.
    He was later charged with possession of a series of weapons, including grenades and rifles.
    Thomas, in a constitutional motion, challenged his detention and the procurement of search warrants for his home and his dealership.
    In his April 25 ruling, Justice Rampersad stated: “The arrest, detention and forcible abduction within, and the removal of the first claimant from, the jurisdiction of Barbados to this country, at the behest of the state of Trinidad and Tobago acting through its servants and/ or agents, were grossly abusive, unconstitutional, unlawful, unnecessary and disproportionate and in particular contravened the first claimant’s constitutional rights . . . .”
    He dismissed the criminal proceedings against Thomas while declaring that the Trinidad police’s actions at every stage of the investigation were “unlawful, unconstitutional and arbitrary”.
    He ordered the first defendant, Trinidad’s attorney general, to pay Thomas cost and damages to be assessed.
    In a media statement last Wednesday, Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General Reginald Armour had said in relation to the Thomas ruling: “I acknowledge that the findings of the judge in that matter raise serious concerns as to the constitutional propriety of actions of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
    “Insofar as I am responsible for the defence of constitutional propriety of agents of the state, and on the matter having been brought to my attention, I have asked to be fully briefed on the facts of this matter and requested urgent advice on the merits of an appeal from lead counsel representing the Attorney General,” he added.
    In his only comment so far on the matter, Barbados’ Attorney General Dale Marshall stated last week Tuesday that he was informed about the outcome of the case the previous Friday by his legal counterparts in Trinidad.
    “I have seen the report. I have seen several stories in the Trinidad media. I have asked the Commissioner of Police to look into the matter and give me a report,” he said then, adding that “I had no knowledge about this”.
    A day later, Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce said he could not comment on the issue, as he has already submitted his report to Marshall. (CMC/BW)

    Source: Nation

  26. David Avatar
    David

    Despite AG’s protestation it seems this was an abduction. There is the related observation regarding Caricom Ambassador’s intervention when he mentioned th existence of a Caricom Extradition Treaty.

    AG: No abduction in Thomas arrest

    https://www.nationnews.com/2023/05/09/ag-no-abduction-thomas-arrest/

  27. David Avatar
    David

    No request made for extradition
    ATTORNEY GENERAL DALE MARSHALL says the Barbados Police Service fell “somewhat short of applicable legal norms” when it apprehended Trinidad and Tobago national Brent Thomas without an extradition request last October.
    As a result, he has told Parliament that Government will abide by any court decisions which find local lawmen legally liable for their actions.
    However, in a ministerial statement delivered in the House of Assembly yesterday, Marshall disagreed with the arrest of Thomas being described as an abduction or kidnapping.
    He said he was speaking on the issue having received and considered reports from the Commissioner of Police, the Ministry of National Security, the Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS), and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).
    Marshall said Barbados has an Extradition Act, Chapter 189 of the Laws of Barbados, “which applies to a large number of criminal offences, including the firearm and other offences for which the warrants of arrest for Mr Thomas were issued”.
    He confirmed, however, that no request was made for Thomas’ extradition.
    “The Trinidad and Tobago High Court has characterised what transpired in Barbados on October 5 last year in relation to Mr Thomas as an ‘abduction’. That is unfortunate language,” he told the House.
    Fallen short
    “From the reports that I have received, I am satisfied that the actions of the Barbados Police Service have fallen somewhat short of applicable legal norms, such as acting under an extradition request. I, however, cannot associate myself with the description of the actions of the Barbados police officers as an abduction or as has elsewhere been described as a kidnapping.”
    Marshall said it was evident the Barbados Police Service “sought to assist a sister police service in a matter which appeared to them to be of a grave and important nature, and especially so, given the scourge of firearm violence that is a feature in Barbados and across the Caribbean”.
    His view was that “they rendered that assistance without any mental element of criminality that would be associated with an abduction”.
    “To the extent that there may be any legal liability attaching to the actions of the Barbados Police Service officers, I can assure you that the Government of Barbados will abide by the law and fully respect any decisions of the law courts,” he said.
    “The Prime Minister and myself – indeed the Government of Barbados – welcome a full distillation and ventilation of all of the facts surrounding this matter. We reject fully any implication of involvement and collusion
    in this matter so as to deny any citizen of CARICOM (or anywhere) their rights to due process.”
    Marshall said based on the reports he received, “the facts” on the controversial apprehension of Thomas, which was the subject of an April 25 decision by Justice Davindra Rampersad in the Trinidad and Tobago High Court, indicated that on October 4, 2022 “an approach was made by the Trans National Organised Crime Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, a CARICOM specialist law enforcement agency.
    “As the result of that approach, IMPACS contacted a gazetted officer of the Barbados Police Service. That gazetted officer was informed by IMPACS that Mr Thomas was a person of interest to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and asked if he would speak with a senior member of that Service,” the Attorney General said.
    “The gazetted member . . . was then contacted directly by a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service who provided information that Mr Thomas was the subject of several police warrants and had eluded the surveillance of the Trinidad and Tobago Trans-National Crime Unit.
    Mr Thomas was believed to have travelled to Barbados and Guyana.”
    Marshall said the Barbados Police Service “was further informed by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service that . . . Thomas was believed to be involved in a significant way in trafficking in illicit firearm and explosives in Trinidad and in the region.
    “The Barbados Police Service was initially requested to establish the whereabouts of Mr Thomas in Barbados and to keep him under surveillance. Before taking any steps to render the requested assistance, the matter was discussed with the acting Commissioner of Police who gave certain advice and instructions,” he stated.
    Duly provided
    “The Barbados Police Service then requested to see the warrants of arrest under which Mr Thomas was wanted in Trinidad and Tobago. These were duly provided. Investigations by the Barbados Police Service revealed that the subject of the warrants of arrest, Mr Thomas, had travelled to Barbados and had checked into a hotel.”
    Marshall continued: “During the early morning of 5th October, 2022, plain clothes members of the Barbados Police Service, but who wore ballistics vests with the word ‘POLICE’ emblazoned thereon, went to the hotel and proceeded to Mr Thomas’ hotel room and knocked several times.
    “Mr Thomas came to the door and the senior officer present identified himself and the other persons present as police officers and showed him his police certificate of appointment. On entering the room, a search warrant was executed. Nothing of an illegal nature was found.”
    He said reports indicate that “the senior police officer then informed Mr Thomas that there was a warrant of arrest for him in Trinidad and Tobago and that he was being arrested. Mr Thomas was then cautioned. Mr Thomas then said, ‘If Trinidad has a warrant for me, I will go back with you all’.”
    Thomas was then arrested and informed of his right to an attorney, he added.
    Marshall said later that day Thomas “was taken by the members of the Barbados Police Service to Grantley Adams International Airport, where they were met by a members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Mr Thomas was handed over to their custody”.
    In terms of the RSS’ involvement, he said based on the report that agency provided, on October 5 it “received a request from the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security to transport four Trinidadian police officers from Trinidad to Barbados that evening.
    “The aircraft departed Trinidad at 3:21 p.m. on October 5th and arrived in Barbados at 4:11 p.m. . . . The RSS aircraft departed Grantley Adams International Airport at 5:08 p.m. and arrived at Piarco International Airport at 6:01 p.m. where the police officers and the Trinidadian national disembarked the aircraft and it returned to Bridgetown.”

    Source: Nation

  28. David Avatar
    David

    Use Caricom arrest warrant, says Marshall
    IT IS TIME for all member states to put the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty into operation.
    Attorney General Dale Marshall urged them to do so, saying this would help avoid incidents like the controversial and contentious arrest of Trinidad and Tobago national Brent Thomas here seven months ago.
    “Going forward, it will be vital for the region to fully implement the terms of the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty which was agreed to and adopted by CARICOM Heads in July 2017 and which was ratified by Barbados in April of 2018,” Marshall told the House of Assembly in a ministerial statement on the matter yesterday.
    Full operation
    “All of CARICOM needs to bring this treaty into full operation in the shortest possible time so that the recurrence of incidents of this kind may be eliminated,” he added.
    Marshall said that “at no time until just over a week ago, was either the Honourable Prime
    Minister of Barbados or myself informed of, or in any other way made aware of, any matter relating to Mr Brent Thomas.
    “Neither of us was consulted by anyone prior to or at the time when Mr Thomas was taken from Barbados in October of 2022. The first time that either of us became aware of any of the events relating to Mr Thomas was after the matter broke in the press in Trinidad just over a week ago,” he said.
    ‘No knowledge’
    “We simply had no knowledge nor involvement in this matter. This is not unusual as these matters are operational, and such requests for surveillance by another law enforcement arm or for arrests of individuals do not fall within our purview.”
    Marshall said before travelling to attend a Financial Action Task Force meeting last week, he requested a full report from the Commissioner of Police, and had also received reports from the Ministry of National Security, the Barbados-based Regional Security System, and the
    CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security.
    He recalled that “on the 25th of April last, a decision was given in the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago by Mr Justice Davindra Rampersad in the matter of Brent Thomas versus The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago and the Director of Public Prosecutions”.
    “In that decision, Justice Rampersad made reference to what he termed the ‘abduction’ of Mr Thomas in Barbados on the 5th day October 2022 and later in his decision, he characterised the circumstances attending Mr Thomas’ return to Trinidad from Barbados, as being unlawful,” the Attorney General told the House.
    He also noted that “the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has appealed the decision of the court, though it has not appealed the part of the judge’s decision which dealt with the circumstances surrounding the return of Mr Thomas to Trinidad”. (SC)

    Source: Nation

  29. call it a deportation Avatar
    call it a deportation

    In case it is not clear to some of you, i will send some phrase through the TheOsaurus
    A) the Barbados Police Service fell “somewhat short of applicable legal norms”
    **TheOsaurus: We may have broken the law as we did not follow the processes that are in place

    B) To the extent that there may be any legal liability attaching to the actions of the Barbados Police Service officers, I can assure you that the Government of Barbados will abide by the law and fully respect any decisions of the law courts
    ***TheOsaurus: We might have to make a big payout because of our big screw-up. we are ready to make the big pay out

    C) Marshall disagreed with the arrest of Thomas being described as an abduction or kidnapping.
    ***TheOsaurus; please call it something else

  30. David Avatar
    David

    TT Opposition Leader writes PM Mottley urging a full public inquiry into Brent Thomas matter:

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2023/05/10/tt-opposition-leader-writes-pm-mottley-urging-a-full-public-inquiry-into-brent-thomas-matter/

  31. David Avatar
    David

    Smoke and mirrors
    T&T lawyer not happy with Barbados’ response
    by COLVILLE MOUNSEY colvillemounsey@nationnews.com

    GOVERNMENT’S DENIAL of any knowledge of the apprehension of Trinidad and Tobago national Brent Thomas without an extradition request, is not sitting well with the lawyers representing Thomas.
    Responding to the Ministerial
    Statement on the matter by Attorney General Dale Marshall read in Parliament on Tuesday, Thomas’ attorney Jose Young, pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley also denied knowledge of the operation, which was characterised as an “abduction” by a High Court Judge in the twin-island republic.
    Young said: “I believe citizens of both nations grow weary of their leaders repeatedly stating that ‘they did not know’. The idea that such significant actions were beyond the knowledge of top officials is hard to believe. . . People deserve the truth,
    and right now, the constant use of excuses and denials appear to be more a game of smoke and mirrors than providing real answers,” Young said.
    In his statement, Marshall said that “at no time until just over a week ago, was either the Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados or myself informed of, or in any other way made aware of, any matter relating to Mr Brent Thomas.
    “Neither of us was consulted by anyone prior to or at the time when Mr Thomas was taken from Barbados in October of 2022. The first time that either of us became aware of any of the events relating to Mr Thomas was after the matter broke in the press in Trinidad just over a week ago,” he said.
    Marshall added: “We simply had no knowledge nor involvement in this matter. This is not unusual as these matters are operational, and such requests for surveillance by another law enforcement arm or for arrests of individuals do not fall within our purview.”
    Young said all options were still on the table when asked whether Thomas’
    legal team would be pursuing legal actions against the Barbados Police Service, given that the Attorney General acknowledged that the lawmen erred in their actions.
    The Trinidad lawyer said: “At the moment our only focus is the appeal that we have before us. I cannot say what will be the next step when that is completed but I can say that no action has been taken off the table. As of this moment we are concentrating on the appeal before us,” he added.
    On Tuesday Marshall told Parliament that Government would abide by any court decisions which find local lawmen legally liable for their actions.
    “From the reports that I have received, I am satisfied that the actions of the Barbados Police
    Service have fallen somewhat short of applicable legal norms, such as acting under an extradition request. I, however, cannot associate myself with the description of the actions of the Barbados police officers as an abduction or as has elsewhere been described as a kidnapping.”
    Marshall said it was evident the Barbados Police Service “sought to assist a sister police service in a matter which appeared to them to be of a grave and important nature, and especially so, given the scourge of firearm violence that is a feature in Barbados and across the Caribbean”.

    Source: Nation

  32. David Avatar
    David

    AG: An unfortunate use of language
    The following is a Ministerial Statement delivered in the House of Assembly on Tuesday by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall on the matter of the involvement of the Barbados Police Service in the apprehension of Brent Louis Thomas, a Trinidad and Tobago national in Barbados on October 5, 2022
    ON APRIL 25, 2023 last, a decision was given in the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago by Mr Justice Davindra Rampersad in the matter of Brent Thomas v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
    In that decision, Justice Rampersad made reference to what he termed the “abduction” of Mr Thomas in Barbados on October 5, 2022 and later in his decision, he characterised the circumstances attending Mr Thomas’ return to Trinidad from Barbados, as being unlawful.
    The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has appealed the decision of the Court, though it has not appealed the part of the Judge’s decision which dealt with the circumstances surrounding the return of Mr Thomas to Trinidad.
    This matter has been occupying the attention of the public in both Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados and before travelling to attend the FATF (Financial Action Task Force), meeting last week, I requested a full report from the Commissioner of Police on the involvement of the Barbados Police Service in the matter given the negative reference to them in the Judge’s decision.
    The report of the Commissioner has been received. I have also received reports from the regional bodies which had any involvement in the matter and these two regional bodies are the Regional Security System (RSS), the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and from the Ministry of National Security in Barbados.
    Having received and considered the various reports, I am now able to speak to the country on the matter through this Ministerial Statement.
    These are the facts. First, let me make it clear that at no time until just over a week ago, was either the Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados or myself informed of, or in any other way made aware of, any matter relating to Mr Brent Thomas. Neither of us was consulted by anyone prior to or at the time when Mr Thomas was taken from Barbados in October of 2022.
    No knowledge
    The first time that either of us became aware of any of the events relating to Mr Thomas was after the matter broke in the Press in Trinidad just over a week ago. We simply had no knowledge nor involvement in this matter. This is not unusual as these matters are operational, and such requests for surveillance by another law enforcement arm or for arrests of individuals do NOT fall within our purview.
    The reports that I have received indicate that on October 4, 2022, an approach was made by the Trans National Organised Crime (TNOC) Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to IMPACS, a CARICOM specialist law enforcement agency. As the result of that approach, IMPACS contacted a gazetted officer of the Barbados Police Service. That gazetted officer was informed by IMPACS that Mr Thomas was a person of interest to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and asked if he would speak with a senior member of that Service. The gazetted member of the Barbados Police Service was then contacted directly by a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service who provided information that Mr Thomas
    was the subject of several police warrants and had eluded the surveillance of the Trinidad and Tobago Trans-National Crime Unit. Mr Thomas was believed to have travelled to Barbados and Guyana.
    The Barbados Police Service was further informed by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service that the subject, Mr Thomas, was believed to be involved in a significant way in trafficking in illicit firearm and explosives in Trinidad and in the region. The Barbados Police Service was initially requested to establish the whereabouts of Mr Thomas in Barbados and to keep him under surveillance. Before taking any steps to render the requested assistance, the matter was discussed with the Acting Commissioner of Police who gave certain advice and instructions.
    The Barbados Police Service then requested to see the warrants of arrest under which Mr Thomas was wanted in Trinidad and Tobago. These were duly provided.
    Investigations by the Barbados Police Service revealed that the subject of the warrants of arrest, Mr Thomas had travelled to Barbados and had checked into a hotel. During the early morning of October 5, 2022, plain clothes members of the Barbados Police Service, but who wore ballistics vests with the word “POLICE” emblazoned thereon went to the hotel and proceeded to Mr Thomas’ hotel room and knocked several times. Mr Thomas came to the door and the senior officer present identified himself and the other persons present as police officers and showed him his Police Certificate of Appointment. On entering the room, a search warrant was executed. Nothing of an illegal nature was found.
    The reports indicate that the senior police officer then informed Mr Thomas that there was a warrant of arrest for him in Trinidad and Tobago and that he was being arrested.
    Mr Thomas was then cautioned. Mr Thomas then said “If Trinidad has a warrant for me, I will go back with you all”.
    Mr Thomas was then arrested and informed of his right to an attorney.
    Later that day, Mr Thomas was taken by the members of the Barbados Police Service to the Grantley Adams International Airport, where they were met by a members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Mr Thomas was handed over to their custody.
    I have earlier mentioned that there was involvement in the operation by two regional bodies which have both submitted reports. Their reports reveal that on October 5, 2022 the Regional Security System (RSS), headquartered in Barbados, received a request from the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security to transport four Trinidadian police officers from Trinidad to Barbados that evening. The aircraft departed Trinidad at 3:21 p.m. on October 5 and arrived in Barbados at 4:11 p.m. A further request was made to transport the same four police officers and a Trinidadian national back to Trinidad that same evening.
    The RSS aircraft departed Grantley Adams International Airport at 5:08 p.m. and arrived at Piarco International Airport at 6:01 p.m. where the police officers and the Trinidadian national disembarked the aircraft and it returned to Bridgetown. That Trinidadian national was Mr Thomas. The coordination of the travel to Barbados of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and their return with Mr Thomas was coordinated fully by CARICOM IMPACS.
    Barbados has an Extradition Act,
    Chapter 189 of the Laws of Barbados, which applies to a large number of criminal offences, including the firearm and other offences for which the warrants of arrest for Mr Thomas were issued.
    I can confirm that no request was made for the extradition of Mr Thomas. The Trinidad and Tobago High Court has characterised what transpired in Barbados on October 5 last year in relation to Mr Thomas as an “abduction”. That is unfortunate language.
    From the reports that I have received, I am satisfied that the actions of the Barbados Police Service have fallen short of applicable legal norms, such as acting under an extradition request. I, however, cannot associate myself with the description of the actions of the Barbados Police officers as an abduction or as has been elsewhere been described as a kidnapping.
    It is evident, Mr Speaker, that the Barbados Police Service sought to assist a sister Police service in a matter which appeared to them to be of a grave and important nature, and especially so, given the scourge of firearm violence that is a feature in Barbados and across the Caribbean. It is my view that they rendered that assistance without any mental element of criminality that would be associated with an abduction.
    To the extent that there may be any legal liability attaching to the actions of the Barbados Police Service officers, I can assure you that the Government of Barbados will abide by the law and fully respect any decisions of the law courts. The Prime Minister and myself – indeed the Government of Barbados – welcome a full distillation and ventilation of all of the facts surrounding this matter. We reject fully any implication of involvement and collusion in this matter so as to deny any citizen of CARICOM (or anywhere) their rights to due process.
    Going forward, it will be vital for the region to fully implement the terms of the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty which was agreed to and adopted by CARICOM Heads in July 2017 and which was ratified by Barbados in April of 2018. All of CARICOM needs to bring this Treaty into full operation in the shortest possible time so that the recurrence of incidents of this kind may be eliminated.

  33. I want to be extradited, not abducted Avatar
    I want to be extradited, not abducted

    The mother of all conspiracies
    Have you been following the Brent Thomas affair? Even when the AG admits that his return to Trinidad outside of the law, we see some still trying to spin the rendition/’extradition’.

    The AG folded like a cheap lawn chair when you sit in it, but some smart guy touting some UWI credentials out there saying “Barbados did nothing wrong”.

    Either this spinner is an idiot or he thinks our beloved AG is one. Commissiong tried to give the AG a little help by mentioning some charter that Barbados signed on to, but this guy is better than that and contradicts the AG (and Mia also). When the wicket tekking pace don’s bring on spin bowlers, they make an ass of everyone including themselves/

    Usually, I will provide you with a link to the story, but to do so is do you a great wrong.

    But I do not focus on B. Thomas or his
    abduction/kidnapping/rendition/illegal rendition/extraordinary rendition/tek up,

    For me Mr Thomas is the canary that keels over in the mine. It is a dead bird. Forget about it. Let us focus on some of the gases that killed the canary.

    Gas 1: RSS
    The RSS will allow regional governments to skirt the law. The time between arrest and ‘deportation’ appears to have been reduced to the time for travel between the arrest point and the local airport. The RSS will then bundled a person on tan airplane and take them elsewhere.

    Do we know the parameters for the scope of operation of the RSS?
    Can the RSS jus grab Caribbean citizens and send them all over the globe?
    Are we just following the CIA manual? Please note that liberties that we would take with our citizens in the Caribbean cannot be done to US citizens in the US.

    Surely you recognize that this type of extradition is the first step of disappearances and possible torture. I am all for being tough on crimes and criminals, but when it looks as if I or any ordinary citizens will be caught in the trap I am opposed to it. What if I am walking aroung in T&T and someone stamps the word criminal on my picture? Just so, I am off the street and on my way elsewhere.

    Gas 2: CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty of 2017
    It amuses me that we have extradition treaties, but a group sat down and came up with this so call treaty.

    This sentence in the treaty scares me
    “3. Where an applicable offence is listed in Annex II, the double criminality of such an offence need not be verified by the Executing Participating Member in order to give rise to surrender pursuant to the Treaty.”

    Now I am no lawyer, but I know a dog catcher cannot just grab every dog off of the street and whisk it away? We already had extradition treaties, but here they come with this watered down mash that, in effect, allows them to slap a label on you, tell it to next government, whisk you off the street and send you anywhere. Such things are essential components of disappearances and torture

    It puzzles me how these folks who are mostly inept at drafting legislation could expertly come up with treaties that erodes the rights of their citizens. I am all for being tough on crimes and criminals, but when it looks as if I or any ordinary citizens will be caught in a trap I am opposed to it.

    Like hell, get tough on crime but don’t get tough on me.

  34. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    What nonsense!!
    The ONLY interest here is to ensure that there is some money to be made by parasite lawyers.
    If a citizen of a country runs into conflict with the legal authorities of his own country, how the Hell does it make sense for Barbados to get into that family affair?
    Unless this was an enemy country – or at least one known to infringe human rights of its citizens, what actually happened makes the most sense of all the other proposed scenarios.

    The ONLY damn problem has been the initial petty and unprofessional reaction of the Trini Judge – whose impartiality seems questionable, given that he as yet have no evidence of all the facts.

    Even stinking Bushy on the damn Blocks can see that if we encourage this kind of inter-island evasion from the LEGAL arms of the law of various countries, it will only encourage the various gang retribution methodologies to follow and extract their own ILLEGAL ‘justice’ here in brassbados.

    Steupsss…
    ANY legally wanted CARICOM national located ANYWHERE in a member country, should be subject to immediate arrest and repatriation.

    Extradition Bushy’s donkey!!… wuh he is a Bajan?
    Lotta shiite!!

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Should Ambassador Coomisiong apologize for introducing the red herring Caricom Extradition Treaty into the conversation?

  36. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Oh dear!
    I am surprise that Bushie does not see that we are already sliding on a slippery slope. I am all for extraditing criminals, but some legal process must be followed.

    Citizen rights cannot be assigned based on criminality. You cannot have one set of rules for ‘criminals or ‘alleged criminals’ and a next set of rules for the good guys.

    Labels should not be a criteria for the rights an individual has. If applied incorrectly/mischievously/maliciously, then a ‘good guy’ could find himself being transported (as a criminal) to a next location.

    What make this even worse, is that these regional governments have the RSS involved in the mix. This opens more dimensions to a simple extradition.

    To lighten things
    Rodney Dangerfield
    Once I was kidnapped and they sent a piece of my finger to my father.
    He said he wanted more proof 🙂

  37. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    Who cares what Comissiong said?
    Or even what the shiite LAW actually says?

    COMMON sense dictates that where a citizen of a CARICOM country is LEGALLY wanted by authorities of HIS country, it would be FOOLISH for us to initiate a set of stupid legal procedures, whose ONLY benefit would be to allow shiite lawyers to extract some fat fees.

    Can you not see how all kinds of crime figures would ‘arrive’ here to benefit from the ten-year period it would take to get through our ‘mock’ courts… while evading their due meeting with justice at HOME?

    Can you not foresee that various ‘hitmen’ would then seek to come here to extract their own brand of ‘justice’ on our new residents?

    Obviously if we were talking about Tdad seeking to extradite a BAJAN citizen, (…or perhaps even a T&T citizen who was RESIDENT in Bim) it may be an issue, But this is a Trini family affair, and his donkey is best packed off to POS ASAP.

    The idea of this ‘protecting personal rights’ is laughable… especially coming from shiite lawyers who even refuse to have their Clients Accounts audited.
    …perhaps personal rights for lawyers to extract some T&T dollars

  38. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    All involved seem to have willingly accepted some blame in the matter. That being the case we should expect someone to be held accountable in Barbados?

  39. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    David, you MUST have worked it out by now…
    These people are all a bunch of clueless jokers who are operating by hunches and guesses.

    Their ONLY guidance is the expected PR impact as indicated by public sentiment. This is why they need Petra and his polls…
    Their RESPONSES are therefore determined by ‘what causes the least kickback?’ – NOT BY WISDOM AND COMMONSENSE.

    A bunch of NAKED Emperors dressed in ‘most honorable’ robes ..that are made of nothingness…

    You only need to replay video of those many shiite meetings held during the COVID idiocy to see how ‘convincingly IGNORANT’ our leaders really are…at ALL levels, and this applies way BEYOND Brassbados.

    Can we on BU at least try to ensure a degree of COMMON SENSE when assessing the various issues?
    This will REQUIRE ignoring ALL official speak, as well as those many others who ‘know not, and know not that they know not…’

    How could it POSSIBLY be useful to encourage fugitives to come to Barbados to evade LAWFUL apprehension in their HOME country?
    …no matter what ANY shiite treaty may say…

  40. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    For too long we have the Bar, Police force and others that operate under a law to itself? Does the Police Complaints Authority work for example? There is a structural problem to do with our governance system.

  41. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    For too long we have ….
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Have you considered that the common denominator in all this has been a general adherence to a set of shiite laws written by our known-to-be-dishonest lawyers?
    Have you noted that the COMMON tread in ALL our Laws is that the lawyers benefit ….whatever the outcome?
    Have you ever considered what the result COULD be if these laws were conceived with the BEST RESULTS for the general society instead?

    Do you REALLY think it is hard to solve the ZR ‘problem’? …or is it ‘hard’ to address this WITHOUT taking bread from hungry lawyers mouths…?

    If we allow lawyers to keep on planting their selfish crops, how the sow-and-sow can WE seriously expect to reap anything other than the jobby we have been getting ‘for far too long…’?

  42. David Avatar
    David

    $.1m bail for BIR employee

    …Brent Thomas’ company issued bogus tax certificate

    Rickie Ramdass May 24, 2023

    A Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) employee has been granted $100,000 bail on four charges in connection with the issuing of a tax clearance certificate to a firearms dealership owned by Brent Thomas, knowing the information on the document to be false.

    The clearance certificate essentially stated that the dealership, Specialist Shooters Ltd, owned by Thomas, was not owing any value added tax (VAT) or income tax to the BIR.

    Charged with the offences is David Isiah Williams Jr of Alvarado Avenue, Lowkie Trace, Penal.

    It is alleged that, on June 10, last year while being an employee of the BIR in Port of Spain as a temporary clerk, and without authorisation he created and published the clearance certificate for the firearms dealership stating that it had discharged all obligations and paid all taxes due under the provision of the VAT Act.

    Williams was also charged with having possession or control of the document; using a computer “to perform a function for the purpose of securing access to data held in that computer with intent to commit an offence involving dishonesty, namely used a computer that was logged on by another employee on the Board of Inland Revenue computer system ‘Gen Tax’ to access tax data relating to the taxpayer Specialist Shooters Training Centre Ltd to create a Value Added Tax Clearance Certificate with intent to obtain an unlawful benefit of $10,000 for issuing the said certificate to persons unknown” and delivering the document to persons unknown.

    Williams Jr appeared before Port of Spain Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor on Monday after being charged by Criminal Tax Investigator II Rawle Sookoo.

    On the charge of misbehaviour in public office, Williams was not called upon to enter as plea as it was laid indictably. He however pleaded not guilty to the other three summary charges however.

    He was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 to cover all four charges.

    Legal consultant for the BIR, attorney Evans Welch, did not object to bail being granted.

    On September 20 last year, the BIR published an advertisement in all three daily newspapers stating that the tax and VAT clearance certificate was not valid.

    “The Board of Inland Revenue wishes to advise members of the public and the business community that VAT Clearance Certificate No. L0649159872 dated June 9, 2022 purporting to be a certificate duly authorised and issued by the Board of Inland Revenue to Specialist Shooters Training Centre Ltd is not an authorised certificate issued by the board,” the advertisement stated.

    Thomas in the spotlight

    The firearms dealership and Thomas recently shot into the spotlight when Justice Devindra Rampersad permanently stayed criminal proceedings against him. Thomas was charged with a series of offences of being in possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

    However, the High Court had found that Thomas had the requisite licences for the items.

    The judge had also found that Thomas was “abducted” in Barbados by local police officers with the aid of those in Barbados and brought back to this country before being charged.

    Given the findings, the State has since appealed the ruling of the judge.

    Justice Rampersad has since directed that he be provided with written submissions by attorneys representing Thomas as well as the State to assist him in determining the quantum of damages that is to be awarded to Thomas.
    Read More

    https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/1m-bail-for-bir-employee/article_dc9e4912-f9d1-11ed-b2ba-738a6b11494e.html

  43. TheOgazerts Avatar
    TheOgazerts

    In the race to the bottom, T&T leads in corruption.

  44. David Avatar
    David

    Dealer seeks damages after abduction

    By Barry Alleyne

    barryalleyne@nationnews.com

    Brent Thomas, the Trinidadian who was removed by members of the Barbados Police Service from a local hotel room almost two years ago and sent packing back to the twin-island republic, has started legal proceedings against the Government of Barbados over the abduction ordeal.

    Lawyers representing the licensed firearms dealer from Maraval sent off an official pre-action protocol letter in December to the Office of Attorney General Dale Marshall, seeking punitive and compensatory damages stemming from the actions of police officers on October 5, 2022.

    Marshall, speaking in the House of Assembly last May 9, said intelligence from Trinidadian authorities indicated Thomas was involved in the trafficking of illegal firearms and explosives, which led to his arrest. However, he admitted that Barbadian police fell “somewhat short of applicable legal norms” when they apprehended Thomas without an extradition request.

    Thomas told the Weekend Nation yesterday he had been instructed to maintain his silence for now about the situation, but in a telephone link-up from Port of Spain, a business associate, who requested anonymity, said many questions still needed to be answered by Barbadian authorities for a better perspective.

    Attorneys from Chancery Advocates, a law firm based at Carleton Court on High Street, St Michael, acting on the complainant’s behalf, sent off the preaction letter on December 1 last year.

    In a copy of the letter obtained by this newspaper, Thomas’ legal team claimed the businessman’s rights were breached in numerous ways.

    “The wrongful invasion of our client’s hotel room located at the Courtyard by Marriott, his arrest, detention and subsequent illegal rendering from Barbados to Trinidad and Tobago collectively or individually, constitutes a breach of Sections 11(a), 11(b) and 11(c) of the Constitution (of Barbados).

    “Furthermore, these actions in whole, or in part, amount to a breach of Section 13(1) and Section 13(2) of the Constitution. None of the limitations, including the limitation designed to ensure that the enjoyment of these rights and freedoms by an individual, prejudices the rights and freedoms of others for the public interest,” the lawyers added.

    They contend that their client’s rights under Section 13(2) were further breached by the refusal and/or failure of members of the Barbados Police Service to inform him of the reasons for his arrest or detention, or to allow him to make a telephone call to be able to retain and instruct without delay, a legal advisor of his own choice.

    “Furthermore, the arrest, detention and illegal rendering of our client constituted a breach of the provisions of the Extradition Act 1979 Cap. 87 of the laws of Barbados. In this regard, the acts of the members of the Barbados Police Service constituted an abuse of process, and arbitrary and unconstitutional conduct. Our client was denied the right to privacy of his hotel room, and the seizure of his passport and other identification documents as well as his private possessions as well as a deprivation of property.”

    The legal firm revealed it would be relying on the judgment of past President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Sir Dennis Byron, in the case of Maya Leaders Alliance And Others v The Attorney General Of Belize to make its case against Barbados.

    The lawyers said their case would be buttressed by the fact that Thomas was forcibly arrested and detained, then dragged into an elevator and forcefully marched in full view of hotel staff, before being placed in a metal cage in the back of a police vehicle from early in the morning until that afternoon.

    As part of the pre-action letter, several previous cases were also sent to the Attorney General’s Office to show precedents.

    “We have requested the clarity that the Barbados Government seems to be hedging to give, which would identify who said what, who called them and why was such a thing entertained against an innocent man,” one of Thomas’ business associates said yesterday, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case.

    In April last year, Trinidadian judge Justice Devindra Rampersad, in delivering a stay against criminal charges brought against Thomas, delivered a tongue-lashing to Trinidad police over the way warrants for the dealer’s arrest were sought, claiming his dignity and reputation were stripped away.

    The judge is to assess damages for the various breaches over the actions of the police in having Thomas forcibly returned to Trinidad.

    Source: Nation

  45. David Avatar
    David

    Another example of taxpayers picking up the tab.

    https://newsday.co.tt/2024/04/07/barbados-to-pay-for-trini-gun-dealers-arrest/

  46. John Johnathan Josias Jones(Double JJ) Avatar
    John Johnathan Josias Jones(Double JJ)

    Any fool could see that the abduction/kidnapping/rendition of Mr Thomas was illegal.

    The fact that he was transported to Trinidad by the RSS is frightening.

    Can this organization participate in the illegal abduction of Caribbean citizens without suffering any consequences? Shouldn’t they have to get approval from some authority. Wait a minute, the relevant authorities are as brain dead and participated in the act.

    Wuloss, wah we gun do? Hate to see planes picking up and dropping off people in the islands. They used to do that shit with ships

  47. The OG Avatar
    The OG

    These guys just cannot do anything right without having repeated bites of the apple. Here is a case where you get one bite and it’s wrong or it’s right and they get it wrong.

    It is imperative that Bajans get a good look (time and opportunity) at the constitution. I don’t think they will set out to do any wrong, but their incompetence frightens me. It’s like having a butcher as chief surgeon.

  48. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    @ David

    Are we suggesting Marshall or Mottley instructed the police to arrest Thomas and the RSS to transport him to Trinidad, simply because some of us are always eager to blame the current administration for anything?

  49. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    It is a stretch to believe an action like that was carried out without the knowledge of the PM or AG.

  50. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    David, you are essentially suggesting police operations are routinely managed and authorised by the PM or AG. More often than not, we engage in discussions about law enforcement issues based on a ‘dis is wuh I feel happen’ approach. In an operation such as what is being discussed, would’ve involved the sharing of certain intelligence between Barbadian and TT police services. A senior officer would’ve had to authorise the ‘operation.’ Without knowing the ‘sequence of events,’ we are essentially making uninformed assumptions.

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