Rhondor Dowlat
and Richard Lord
Relatives of murdered state prosecutor Dana Seetahal, SC, yesterday asked politicians to desist from talking about the case on any political platform.
The request came yesterday on the heels of remarks made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar during her address at the United National Congress’ Monday Night Forum in Sangre Grande.
During her speech on Monday, Persad-Bissessar publicly chastised the T&T Police Service over its failure to bring closure to Seetahal’s murder.
“TTPS, get your act together and bring closure to this matter,” Persad-Bissessar told supporters, adding the Government had provided the police with all the resources they needed to carry out the necessary investigations, both locally and abroad.
The PM admitted crime remained a tough job for her government but also told the criminals she was not afraid of them.
“Enough is enough. We will cut crime and deal with the causes of crime,” she added.
But speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Seetahal's niece, Danielle Francois, questioned why the PM chose to make her remarks on an election campaign platform.
“She could have made the comments in her capacity as head of the Security Council or Prime Minister in my opinion. However well intentioned, we would really not like to see aunty Dana used in any political campaigning with election.”
On May 4, last year, Seetahal was assassinated along Hamilton-Holder Street, Woodbrook.
Drayton concerned
Independent Senator Helen Drayton says one year after the assassination of Seetahal, T&T is in a dire situation as no one has been brought to justice for the killing.
She said so during her contribution to yesterday’s aborted Senate debate on the Insurance Bill, 2015.
Seetahal’s family observed her death with a church service in Tunapuna on Saturday and a vigil in front the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, on Sunday.
Yesterday, Drayton told legislators Seetahal’s assassination “was one of the worst crimes in recent times.”
She said Seetahal’s family had “every right to be pessimistic about not only the police but national security as a whole to deliver justice.”
She told legislators Seetahal’s murder was not just a police matter but a national security issue.
“This is a matter where a state prosecutor was assassinated with implications for the entire judicial system,” she added.
Drayton said politicians could go on the public platform and talk about baby grants but not the burning situations that were affecting citizens.
Drayton said the recent Moody’s downgrade of T&T was also a correct one. However, she did not elaborate on that.