Sturge: ‘Death threat against me real’

Defence Minister Wayne Sturge has finally broken his silence on the alleged threat against his life.

In a WhatsApp response to Guardian Media on Monday, Sturge confirmed “the threat is real,” although he said he did not report the matter to the police.

There were suggestions that no report was made relative to Sturge’s life being threatened.

Asked when, how and where the threat was made, and why he believed his life was under threat, Sturge said: “The matter was, in fact, reported. It was communicated to me by a senior investigator based on intelligence they received.”

The threat against Sturge is allegedly linked to his refusal to install hand-picked personnel in state and constituency-level positions. Among the alleged conspirators are a lawyer with close ties to the ruling United National Congress administration, two illegal quarry operators, and a senior military officer.

Police and military intelligence agencies reportedly identified a “real and present danger” to Sturge and his relatives, prompting heightened security measures to be implemented.

Sturge was the third Government minister whose life was allegedly under threat. The other two are Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen.

On August 11, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that threats were made against Padarath and Ameen over their stance against corruption in the Unemployment Relief Programme and the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP). – Jensen La Vende