PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Pressure mounted on Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar Wednesday to dismiss her National Security Minister Austin ‘Jack’ Warner over the existence of “an illegal Flying Squad” operating in Trinidad and Tobago.

Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, in a radio broadcast, disputed statements by Persad Bissessar that she did not know of the existence of the squad questioning whether as chairman of the National Security Council (NSC) she wanted the country to believe that the “illegal Flying Squad” was operating without the knowledge of law enforcement authorities.

“Is she really telling us that as head of the Security Council she knew nothing about it,” Maharaj asked in his statement, adding “this is a blatant untruth”.

On her return from attending the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Inter-Sessional summit in Haiti last week, Prime Minister Bissessar said she had absolutely no knowledge of the existence of the squad within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service adding the matter had also never been discussed at the NSC which she chairs.

Persad Bissessar said that there have been headlines “suggesting that some persons may have erroneously perceived a sanctioning of the infamous Flying Squad of the past.

“I have already directed the Minister of National Security to prepare a full report on this matter for the attention of the National Security Council and myself as Chairman of the Council.