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Former Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi says Trinidad and Tobago should prepare for the release of hundreds of people being held under preventative detention orders as the current State of Emergency approaches its end.
Speaking during the Opposition’s September 10 press conference, Al-Rawi said more than 600 people were being held under preventative detention orders.
He explained that releasing detainees requires administrative processing, including revocation orders from the Minister of Homeland Security and procedures within the prison system.
Al-Rawi said the approaching end of the SOE raises significant questions about the people detained during the emergency.
He questioned how many detainees would ultimately face criminal charges if authorities possessed evidence linking them to serious criminal activity.
Al-Rawi said the public should also pay attention to the reasons individuals were originally detained and whether those grounds withstand scrutiny.
He predicted that Trinidad and Tobago could eventually face extensive litigation arising from some preventative detentions, including possible claims for damages.
Al-Rawi noted that such litigation can take years to move through the courts, meaning any financial consequences for the State could emerge long after the current emergency has ended.
