Caption: Justice Frank Seepersad
‘Jail is jail. One secure facility is just as effective as another’ – Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro.
By Sue-Ann Wayow
A PRISONER who objected legally to his relocation from the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca had his application dismissed by the court.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, while the country observed its first night under the declared State of Emergency (SoE), legal representatives acting on behalf of a detainee filed an urgent application before the High Court seeking the individual’s return to the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca.
The detainee, who had been relocated to a secure facility under heightened national security measures, was the subject of a habeas corpus challenge naming both the Commissioner of Police and Commissioner of Prisons as respondents, a media release on Saturday from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated.
Following a virtual hearing before Justice Frank Seepersad, the court dismissed the application in its entirety and assessed costs against the applicant.
“This ruling affirms the legal standing of recent operational decisions taken in the interest of public safety and secure detention,” the TTPS stated.
Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro, in an immediate response to the midnight court action, said, “Jail is jail. One secure facility is just as effective as another, so I am confused as to why they want to pick and choose where they want to be housed whilst they are under the care of the state.
“Is there something or someone special at the other facility? We maintain our commitment to security and procedural integrity, and it is unclear why specific preferences are being asserted regarding detention locations.”
The TTPS reaffirmed its obligation to uphold law and order, especially during this critical period.
All operational decisions are made with due regard to legal frameworks, public safety, and institutional protocols. This matter underscores the importance of respecting lawful authority and the coordinated efforts between agencies to maintain national security, the TTPS stated.
The TTPS again encouraged the public to remain calm and cooperative as the SoE continues.
