Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley continues to distance himself from the case involving local firearms dealer, Brent Thomas,  who was arrested by Barbadian police without a warrant and handed over to Trinidadian cops when they arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport last October. 

Prime Minister Rowley told Thursday’s post cabinet media conference that at no time does he, or any member of his Cabinet, get involved in the day-to-day of police business.

Dr. Rowley said he became aware of the existence of the matter because of media reports. As Head of the National Security Council, Dr Rowley said his concern, fear, and apprehension concerning the matter was that of “arms, ammunition, permits, location and use of those things in and against the population of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Meanwhile, former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith, responding to the Prime Minister’s comments on the Brent Thomas matter, says Dr. Rowley must be held to account.

Griffith says no Commissioner of Police has the authority to have any officer leave Trinidad and Tobago, without the authorization of government.

His sentiment was echoed by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar, who questioned the timing of the Prime Minister’s trip to Barbados this weekend, which he said was a private vacation.

“It is unbelievable that Rowley’s sudden and highly suspicious trip to Barbados is a personal vacation that was planned in advance and not related to this expanding abduction scandal engulfing both governments. The Commissioner of Police does not have the authority to deploy officers to function in any operation outside of the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago without government knowledge via the Minister of National Security,” she said.