FBI sets up permanent base in Trinidad and Tobago
by Marcia Braveboy
Friday, August 20, 2004
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: What is referred to
as a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) attaché is now in the twin island
republic of Trinidad and Tobago setting up a permanent base to investigate the
possibilities of an Al Qaeda terrorist residing in the country.
The US specialist agent of the FBI, Dennis Pierce, believes that one of the
most wanted Al Qaeda terrorists, Adnan El Shukrijumah, is living in Trinidad
and may be seeking to scheme his way into the United States on a Trinidadian
passport. The Saudi Arabian-born terrorist,
who is 29 years of age, is reckoned to be one of the most dangerous Al Qaeda
terrorists. The FBI agent is already sorting out the details within the US
embassy in the capital city of Port of Spain so as to start operating within
that compound during the month of August. The
office will be a sub-office of the FBI’s main regional base in Caracas,
Venezuela; and will extend its services to Suriname and Guyana as two other
prospective countries where Al Qaeda terrorist Adnan EI Shukrijumah is
believed to be hiding from the FBI. For the
moment, Minister of National Security Martin Joseph and Commissioner of Police
Trevor Paul have denied having any knowledge whatsoever of the FBI’s presence;
but the FBI have indicated that they will be helping law enforcement agencies
to better fight crime and terrorism. Another
aspect of the FBI’s strategic plan is to exchange information pertinent to
criminal activity between Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Guyana.
Meanwhile an alert has been raised that the wanted Al Qaeda terrorist might be
seeking to also enter Mexico from Guyana either on a Canadian, Saudi Arabian
or Trinidadian passport. In related news, the
Commissioner of Police has cancelled the vacation leave of all senior and
constable officers. Commissioner Paul confirmed that the call is not linked to
the FBI set up in Trinidad and Tobago, but is geared towards dealing with the
domestic crime crisis.
He said the outcry from the public to arrest
the crime situation is so loud that he had no choice but to pool all the
resources within his reach to help do so. “One way that I can improve on what
I am doing is having more resources available to me,” said Commissioner Paul.
He made it clear that there are no
exclusions; all senior and junior officers must report to the respective
authorities on Monday “to see how we can serve the public better, and hope
that it would impact positively in our fight against crime,” Paul remarked.
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