Former House Speaker and attorney, Nizam Mohammed, has made a passionate plea for attorneys in Trinidad and Tobago to unite in defense of over 200 citizens incarcerated under Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs) during the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE). Addressing a forum titled “Citizens’ Rights, Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Protests in the SoE” at Cipriani Labour College in Valsayn, Mohammed called for the formation of a legal consortium to address these detentions.
The forum highlighted the case of businessman Dominic Hadeed and his wife Genevieve, who were released after the SoE tribunal recommended their release. The couple had been detained since June 24, and the revocation of their PDOs by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has reignited debate over the fairness and transparency of such detentions.
Mohammed, visibly emotional, noted that the majority of those held under PDOs hail from economically disadvantaged communities, lacking the resources to seek legal redress. He criticized the legal community for not doing enough to support these individuals, questioning the absence of Legal Aid in their defense.
The former Speaker emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights over financial considerations, urging his colleagues to prioritize justice for those unable to defend themselves. He also drew attention to the poor conditions in Trinidad and Tobago’s prisons, which have become a growing concern, especially following the detention of individuals from more affluent backgrounds.
Mohammed’s call to action seeks not only to address the immediate issue of unjust detentions but also to spark a broader conversation about the role of the legal fraternity in safeguarding citizens’ rights, irrespective of their social standing. His appeal underscores the need for a united legal front to ensure no citizen fears arrest simply for exercising their freedom of speech.
