The United Workers Party today calls on Government to immediately disband the covert spying operation, illegally set up by the Roosevelt Skerrit administration, to snoop into the affairs of law-abiding citizens concerned about the state of governance in the country.
Reports reaching the UWP indicate that The National Joint Intelligence Centre (NJIC) comprises a group of police officers handpicked by Skerrit himself, and operates from the 6th Floor of the Financial Centre Building in Roseau where the Prime Minister’s office is located. It has been brought to our attention that the NJIC has the capability to intercept cell phone and email communication and is also able to monitor activities at select residences and business places via remotely controlled hidden cameras and audio recording devices.
The UWP finds it particularly disturbing that an operation initially intended to bring the Customs Authority, the Inland Revenue Department and the Police together for the purpose of gathering intelligence to fight crime, has been turned into an unlawful, state-financed espionage service for Roosevelt Skerrit and his political colleagues.
Everywhere else in the civilized world, intelligence gathering operations are established with proper legal authority to assist in the fight against crimes like money laundering, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, terrorism and illicit enrichment. In Dominica, without the approval of the people through Parliament for any operation of this kind, Skerrit has fashioned a spy network to terrorize members of the official opposition, law abiding citizens deemed to be his political opponents and prominent members of society with no connection to criminal activity.
The UWP believes this most savage attack on our freedom and democracy, at a time when brutal dictatorships around the world are being toppled one after the other, provides a chilling reminder that Skerrit will not relent in his desire for total repression of the free will of all Dominicans.
The UWP is outraged over this unjustified invasion of the privacy of citizens. It is absolutely reprehensible for a man whose membership in the Parliament is still awaiting validation, to abuse the people’s money in such an unproductive, illegal activity even as crime spirals out of control.
The UWP demands the immediate disbandment of NJIC in the public interest and the formation of a professional crime fighting intelligence gathering agency with proper Constitutional authority and effective safeguards against political manipulation and abuse.
Hector John
Leader of the Opposition
August 25, 2011
CONTACT:
Hector John, 265 4334
