Gov’t Admits to Using Pegasus Spyware
As I said on Monday, the government did in fact acquire the Pegasus software and has been illegally spying on citizens’ WhatsApp communications. I also again confirm to citizens that illegal accessing and storage of emails and text messages are occurring. This is being done with the assistance of certain ‘hand-picked’ police officers.
Therefore, I call on Minister Hinds to state what is the role of Constable Clement in the Interception of communications? What is the relationship between Constable Clement and Minister Hinds? Why has a junior officer been allowed access to law-abiding citizens’ private messages? Is the COP (Ag) Macdonald Jacob being harassed or pressured by Minister Hinds to do his bidding?
The whistleblower who provided this information also provided names of persons who are being spied upon. These persons are being alerted privately because of safety concerns.
Rowley’s attempt to deflect is negated by his own history of untruths. Recall that he brought fake emails to parliament, said he was not closing down Petrotrin and falsely claimed he did not interfere with the Police Service Commission.
Rowley’s “if you have nothing to hide” defence of illegal spying on citizens is most commonly used by paranoid dictators who violate their citizens’ privacy rights for personal political gain.
This government is spying on the WhatsApp messages of its own PNM members, Faris al Rawi has already become a victim of this illegal monitoring of WhatsApp messages.
I advise all citizens to be cautious with their private communications as there may be law-abiding persons under illegal state surveillance whose names were not provided to me.
I will continue to fight for the rights and freedoms of all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. I will not allow Keith Rowley’s dictatorship to take hold in our country.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Leader of the Opposition