By Fairth Edwards

FORMER National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has denied allegations published in Newsday on Friday, saying he went to the ministry to collect a cheque from the permanent secretary.

Hinds called the report “a tissue of lies,” “absolutely false,” and “defamatory.”

In a statement via Facebook on Saturday, Hinds said the article and its headline, “Hinds’ ministry visit sparks security probe; Defence Minister pulled from Cabinet meeting, access passes revoked,” were intended to cause “hurt, embarrassment and to damage my reputation.”

Responding directly to the article’s claim that his visit to the Ministry’s office on Thursday triggered internal alarms and led to a probe.

Hinds said, “The simple and only facts are that on Thursday 29th May, 2025, I communicated via telephone with the Permanent Secretary of the ministry. That conversation revealed that there was a cheque due and ready for me at the office. With the PS’s agreement, I proceeded to the office to collect same.”

He said he drove into the ministry’s car park, waited briefly, and received the cheque from the PS who exited the elevator to meet him.

Hind said, “I thanked her and I immediately left. During my time there, I made no request of her, nor indeed of anyone, for anything. The PS was the only person with whom interacted.”

He added, “The story as published in the Newsday is totally false.”

Hinds said the article has already generated “many adverse comments about me on social media”

Hinds also mentioned his intent to “pursue all legal remedies that may be available to me against Newsday and any other person(s) responsible for spreading these lies and furthering my defamation.”

Hinds’ full statement:

I am a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and an Attorney-at-Law, in good standing. I here state categorically, that the Newsday article, supported by a front page headline of 30 May 2025, in which allegations of unethical and/or illegal conduct on my part was published, is based on a tissue of lies; is absolutely false; and therefore defamatory. The simple and only facts are that on Thursday 29th May, 2025, I communicated via telephone, with the Permanent Secretary (PS)(name withheld), of what used to be the Ministry of National Security. That conversation revealed that there was cheque due and ready for me at the office. With the PS’s agreement, I proceeded to the office to collect same. I drove into the Ministry’s carpark and waited for a few seconds. The PS emerged from the elevator in the car park and handed me the cheque. I thanked her and I immediately left. During my time there, I made no request of her, nor indeed of anyone, for anything. The PS was the only person with whom interacted. The story as published in the Newsday, is totally false and intended to cause hurt, embarrassment and to damage my reputation. These falsehoods have already begun to gain many adverse comments about me on social media. As a result, I intend to pursue all legal remedies that may be available to me against the Newsday; and any other person(s) responsible for spreading these lies and furthering my defamation.