By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE threat is real.

Attorney General John Jeremie admitted on Monday that information published in a newspaper article which tells of a major plot to destabilise the police, the judiciary and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office was factual.

The article published on Sunday was mentioned by Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles who in her contribution to a debate in Parliament regarding the extension of the State of Emergency (SoE) asked if more information could be provided to citizens.

Jeremie on Monday, brought the motion to have the SoE extended for a further three months during an extraordinary sitting of the Parliament.

In his contributions after Beckles spoke, Jeremie said his remarks were vetted by the Commissioner of Police as the matter was highly sensitive.

 But he said, “I don’t have control over the press but the report was factually largely speaking, correct. The threat is a very real threat.”

Referring to the 1990 coup, that took place almost exactly 35 years ago, Jeremie said there were many similarities of unrest in the country.

He said, “The difference today is that there is no singular violent threat.”

Jeremie added, “I want to make it abundantly clear, if we did not take decisive action of declaring a State of Emergency and immediately removing individuals… I will not describe them as gang leaders as yet…from the Maximum Security Prison, ten days ago, along with the many subsequent operations which I can confirm have in fact taken place…some of which have been publicised, some of which have not been publicised, many of us would not be here today.”

He thanked all arms of law enforcement for actions taken from July 18 and continuing.

Jeremie said, “We cannot place all the facts on public record without endangering lives.”

The AG also said the population could not be blamed for having doubts  having had a previous leadership who did not share truths with citizens.