Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley went on record in the House of Representatives on Friday afternoon, denouncing Opposition allegations that government has procured is utilizing the Pegasus Spyware Solution to spy on citizens in this country.

The allegation was first made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar during a UNC meeting on April 4, and has been repeated on several platforms since.

“I want to assure the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and all observers, that the State does not possess, nor has it ever possessed or use Pegasus spyware. Contrary to the current misinformation campaign on this issue, there is no truth whatsoever, in the allegation that the State, including, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (“TTPS”) and/ or the Strategic Services Agency (‘SSA’), or any other state agency for that matter, has any officer using Pegasus spyware,” PM Rowley told the Lower House as he read out a Cabinet-approved statement.

He explained that the SSA is the sole custodian of all known interception of communication software and hardware procured by government or any other state agency.

“This is a policy of the Government that I lead, and have led, since September 2015. As I will explain, my government even resisted repeated attempts by a former Commissioner of Police to obtain, own and utilize, intercept technology by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. It is this Government’s policy that all such technology should reside within the control of the SSA. The SSA has provided an intercept suite to be used by the TTPS, but the equipment is the sole responsibility of the SSA and remains under the SSA’s strict jurisdiction.”

“Pegasus uses a methodology not covered by the Act and therefore, there has not been any authorization to procure that solution currently, or in the past. I can also state categorically, that the Government took a conscious decision not to procure Pegasus due to its overreaching capacity for penetration, abuse and justifiable concerns about it, including the many internationally troubling reports surrounding its use, which are less than favourable,” the Prime Minister said.