PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Monday accused State entities in his country of fabricating and executing a “vicious defamation campaign” against him after he was detained on a stopover in Antigua and Barbuda where he was told that his name had been placed on a watch list of the Paris-based International Police (Interpol).

“This is not just a mistake, it is a deliberate, calculated attempt to tarnish my name on an international stage,” Rowley told a news conference, adding “it is state-sponsored slander”.

Rowley, a trained geologist, who stepped down from active politics in April this year, said that he was on his way to Montserrat to participate in activities marking the 30th anniversary of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory Scientific opening last Monday when he was stopped at VC Bird International Airport.

Rowley told reporters that on his arrival in Antigua, an official disappeared behind “a counter into an office and after a significant period of going through immigration she came back and her demeanour changed a little bit.

“But she was still very pleasant and she did not tell me anything, she went through the process …and she escorted me out of the area where I was standing”.

He said he did not “think much about it because I have been through many airports, I have filled more than five passports… so I a familiar. So I got into Antigua and I am in the airport, and Antigua security came looking for me, found me and took me into the protocol system and took me into the executive lounge”.

Rowley said while there, he informed one of the officers about his delay at immigration “because while not bothered, I was a little concerned and somewhere along the line I was then told …the reason why I was delayed is because I was on a watch list.

“I did not say anything then because I did not want to create any issue in Antigua. I went on to Montserrat… and I enjoyed being there for a week… and came back to Antigua on my way home.

“I am going through the system again in similar manner
— this time a different officer
— and the process went very smoothly until my passport was placed in the machine. Same story.

“The officer stopped me, asked me to hold on and the officer disappeared again. After a protracted period, the officer came back and he said to me I was on some list,” Rowley said.

He said he asked the officer “What is this about?” and was told by the officer that he could not divulge any information to him “but if you want to speak to my supervisor, I can arrange for you to speak with the supervisor”.

“I said yes, I would speak to your supervisor. I went to speak with the supervisor, an extremely pleasant officer, who explained to me that this development which I am experiencing is as a result of mistaken identity. I found that a little strange,” Rowley said, adding that he asked the supervisor “Mistaken identity with whom?”

“She said another person who may not have the same birthdate as you. And I asked who is interested in that person and she said Antigua police and that’s when I got very concerned and I learnt this is not any ordinary situation,” he said.

“People’s location and Antigua police are not arbitrary things,” Rowley said, adding that he had made the necessary investigations through his Caribbean Community network of contacts “and it was confirmed to me that I was on Interpol list and the issue that arose in Antigua is a result of the Antigua police responding to Interpol and Interpol’s interest in me,” he related.

Rowley described the ordeal as a dastardly act of political persecution and said he was stunned to learn that Trinidad and Tobago authorities may have caused his name to be flagged internationally.

He called on both Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro to indicate what role they played in having his name placed on the Interpol watch list.

“What crime or interest do I pose that justifies this?” Rowley asked. “Let the people of this country know what you are accusing me of, because I have done nothing wrong.

“If this can be done to a former prime minister, imagine what can be done to the average citizen,” he added.

However, late Monday, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) issued a statement countering Rowley’s claims, saying that its checks with Interpol showed that he is not listed on any watch list or international notice.

“No alerts, flags, or warrants are associated with his name in Interpol’s systems. Moreover, the TTPS confirms that it has not submitted, nor caused to be submitted, any information to Interpol that would justify such a listing. There is no record, directive, or procedural action from any department within the TTPS that supports the allegation of local involvement in the matter,” the police serve said.