Minister Undertakes to Lift Veil of Secrecy on Raid

Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington

It is a position that Elrington, himself a former defense counsel, agrees with.  The family should have been given the opportunity to contact its lawyers and should have been provided with a reasonable explanation for being raided.  He promised them that he would personally look into the incident and prepare a report chronicling his findings that will be provided to the family in the days ahead.

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Home Affairs

“When they picked them up they ought to have explained to them why they were being detained.  They ought to have allowed them to have access to phone calls so that they can phone their attorneys and let them know what is happening so that attorneys can come to their assistance.  And to the extent that that was denied them, to my mind that was wrong.  There’s no two ways about it.  You can’t have no excuse for holding people for twelve hours, not explaining to them why you’re detaining them and not giving them a chance or opportunity to contact their legal advisors.  That was wrong.  But I went on to assure them that I will find out what transpired on that occasion, I will put it in writing to them what my understanding of it was, why they were held.  I will send a copy to whomever they tell me to and I will copy it to Brother Imam Nuri so that he can know as well.  Let me tell you, there is nothing that goes on in the police force that should be a secret.  When it comes to dealing with people’s human rights you can’t have any secrets.”