Gonzales not convinced of SoE as reason for parade cancellation

by Shane Superville

Former National Security Minister and PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales says he doesn’t believe that security considerations due to the State of Emergency (SoE) were the reason behind the cancellation of this year’s Independence Day military parade and is urging the government to come forward and explain its reasoning.

A media release from the Ministry of Homeland Security on Friday reported that the parade’s cancellation came after “careful deliberation and intelligence” arising from the SoE.

However, Gonzales challenged the explanation, referring to remarks made by Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro during his appearance on a morning talk show earlier in August, where he claimed that the criminal threat which prompted the SoE had been “neutralised.”

He therefore accused the government of using the SoE as a reason to cancel the parade to conceal the real cause, which he speculated could be due to poor coordination or financial issues.

“The government needs to explain whether it is a financial issue that has resulted in its decision, or whether there are problems between the Ministries of Homeland Security and Defence, where they cannot determine which ministry takes the lead in this matter, because you must have a lead ministry.

“The government now has in place a Minister of Homeland Security as well as a Minister of Defence, so perhaps there are issues that exist between both ministries that they can’t resolve, and this potentially impacts the actual holding of the parade… I am asking questions.”

Gonzales also questioned whether the cancellation of the parade was done to embarrass President Christine Kangaloo, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. He accused the UNC-led government of trying to undermine the President by making disparaging remarks about her in the past.

“The Prime Minister and her ministers have consistently gone in public to embarrass and harass Her Excellency the President.

“Therefore, the public must ask whether this decision is another attack on the Commander of our armed forces in this country, because the parade is presided over by Her Excellency. It is her parade, where she inspects the guard of honour, receives the highest salute, and exits the parade.”

Gonzales, who briefly served as Minister of National Security earlier this year but as a member of the National Security Council under former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, said the government’s explanation “did not make sense,” as such a widespread national observance is typically facilitated with nationwide security measures to counter any threat.

He noted that even as a citizen he was deeply disappointed by the cancellation, emphasizing that such an occasion unites the country in patriotism and positivity.