Two detainees held under the State of Emergency (SoE) have filed complaints against their detention under the Emergency Powers Regulations.
Since the SoE began on December 30, the review tribunal – established under the regulations – has convened two hearings and has already submitted one report to the Minister of National Security.
The tribunal’s secretary confirmed these details in response to inquiries from Newsday on February 11.
Deborah Peake, SC, was appointed chairman of the tribunal. Its other members are Ian Benjamin, SC, and Lee Merry, SC. Their appointments were announced in a gazetted notice signed by acting Chief Justice Nolan Bereaux on January 2.
Newsday understands the tribunal’s only report so far has not yet been given to the detainee’s attorneys, although it was submitted two weeks ago.
So far, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has issued 18 detention orders.
According to the procedural guidelines, detainees are entitled to request a case review by the tribunal. Requests must be made in writing and signed by the detainee or their representative.
They are to be submitted via e-mail to the tribunal’s secretary at reviewtribunaltt@gmail.com and copied to the Minister of National Security. Alternatively, they may be delivered in person at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs at the Government Campus Plaza, Port of Spain and copied to the National Security Minister.
On receipt of the request, detainees will be provided with grounds for their detention, sufficient particulars to enable them to present their case and notice of the review's time and date. Detainees may present their case personally or through legal representation.
Reviews are held in camera (closed to the public). Reviews of each detainee are heard separately and in the absence of any other detainee.
After reviewing a case, the tribunal makes recommendations on the necessity or expediency of continuing the detainee's detention.
Detentions
January 12
1.Shumba James, of Simon Trace, Moruga. James was identified as a credible suspect in various illegal activities, including planning targeted killings of individuals assisting the police service in its investigations.
January 20
2. Carlvin Lee, also known as Calvin Lee and Tyson. Lee was identified as the leader of a known criminal organisation known as the SIXX gang and as the person planning and intending to execute violent retaliatory reprisals or other violent actions involving the use of high-powered weapons and explosives, after an attempted hit on his life and the murder of his associate Trevor Williams on December 28, 2024.
Lee, according to police, was the intended target when gunmen waited outside the Besson Street Police Station. Williams, who was accompanying Lee, was killed. A day later, Cleon Lugin, 37, Derron Calliste, 35, Kambon Omowale, 39, Garet Smart, and Ryan Lessey, 24, were killed in a suspected reprisal attack. It was after this attack that the SoE was declared.
January 24
3. Joshua Roberts, als
