PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley has confirmed that his brother, Alpheus, died on Monday, the same day the twin island republic declared a state of emergency ( SoE) due to the threat to national security posed by reprisal killings and the use of high-powered weapons.

Rowley’s absence from the news conference where officials fielded questions from the media for the reason behind the SOE was quite noticeable, with the acting attorney general telling reporters that it would not be “appropriate” for him to be the one to explain the details of the SOE.

Rowley is also head of the National Security Council and his absence led to a chorus of calls questioning his whereabouts.

Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar, described Rowley as a “coward” saying he “has no plan and is hiding from the violent crime crisis he and his government contributed to over the last ten years”.

But in a statement posted on his Facebook page, Prime Minister Rowley, while not disclosing the reasons behind his absence at the news conference said “My sincerest thanks to those of you who have taken time to express your condolences to me and my family on the passing yesterday of my dear brother Alpheus.

“Your kind thoughts and good wishes of support are appreciated,” he said, giving no further details on the death of his brother.

In May this year, Rowley said that another of his brothers, Felix Joseph, had died at the age of 79.