TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLITICAL ROUND-UP

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000838 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS KCRM TD SUBJECT: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLITICAL ROUND-UP ¶1. The following stories are mainly from media reporting and represent issues of public interest in Trinidad and Tobago with potential political implications: ¶A. POLICE KILLING THIS WEEKEND ¶B. CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE-AN UPDATE ¶C. CHIEF OF IMMIGRATION RETIRED AUGUST 8 -------------- POLICE KILLING THIS WEEKEND -------------- ¶2. According to media reports, police officers shot six men and one woman during August 18 - 19. Family members and other witnesses stated the police confronted the men and then opened fired, willfully killing all six men. A bullet strayed into the bedroom killing a woman bystander. Family members refuted Commissioner of Police, Trevor Paul's media report which stated that a police patrol pulled along side a car and exchanged gunfire. He added that police recovered four firearms. -------------- CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE-AN UPDATE -------------- ¶3. Secretary General of CARICOM, Edwin Carrington requested that more CARICOM countries join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). He said it was "an essential step towards true independence." Carrington made the request during the formal signing of a financing agreement between the European Commission (EC) and Caribbean Forum. The EC will finance 1.315 million euros to the CCJ for the enhancement of information and communication technology of the court, increasing public awareness of the CCJ, fostering co-operation between the CCJ and the European Court of Justice and improving its law library. ¶4. Since CCJ's inauguration on April 16, 2005, only Barbados and Guyana have replaced the Privy Council in London with the CCJ as their final court of appeal. Other CARICOM countries have not yet accepted the jurisdiction of the CCJ. -------------- CHIEF OF IMMIGRATION RETIRED AUGUST 8 -------------- ¶5. On August 8, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) Chief Immigration Officer, Herman Browne effectively retired. Assistant Chief Immigration Officer, Deodath Maharaj was appointed as Acting Chief Immigration Officer. ¶6. In July 2003, the GOTT promoted Browne as the Chief Immigration Officer after serving as the immigration attache at the Trinidad and Tobago Embassy in Washington, D.C., and at the Consulate General in Toronto. ¶7. Comment: The Consular section has enjoyed a good working relationship with Mr. Maharaj. Post expects that the good relationship will continue and that Post's efforts to collaborate with GOTT on border protection and immigration issues will be maintained. End comment. AUSTIN