Camille: Ask CoP, By CAROL MATROO

Minister of Legal Affairs Camille Robinson-Regis says it is not the Government’s responsibility to respond to death threats, but that of the Commissioner of Police.

Speaking through her communications officer yesterday, Robinson-Regis said the death threats reportedly sent to MP Carlos John and UNC leader Basdeo Panday should be referred to the Commissioner, as she feels confident he would deal with them.

She said it was up to the Commissioner to make recommendations to the National Security Minister on dealing with the issue.

Robinson-Regis said she does not understand what “the internal struggle within the UNC” is about, but referred to the Hansraj Sumairsingh tragedy.

Sumairsingh, a UNC councillor, was shot dead on Old Year’s Night, 2000, after receiving death threats.

Robinson-Regis said Sumairsingh had complained to Panday, who was then Prime Minister.

“Sumairsingh met his untimely demise because the threats were ignored,” she added.
A Government source said it is still the general belief the threats originate within the UNC.

“This is just another UNC nonsense machinery,” the source said.

“What does anybody (else) stand to gain by sending these notes?”

At a post-Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning advised John to “look within” for the perpetrator.

Security Minister Howard Chin Lee could not be reached for comment yesterday.