There is documentation at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service confirming that former Senior Superintendent Roger Alexander visited the Maximum Security Prison in January of this year--three months before becoming the Homeland Security Minister.
He was accompanied by his then superior ACP Richard Smith who said the visit was above board and dismissed allegations of anything clandestine.
00:00After days of speculation and towing and froing between the attainees of Garth Gorda and Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander about his visits to a high-risk inmate at the maximum security prison, TV6 News was able to confirm the visit.
00:14Alexander was then a senior superintendent of police, paid a visit to inmate Rajai Ali at the maximum security prison in January of this year, four months before he became a government minister.
00:25The visits were confirmed the following two internal Trinidad and Tobago police service correspondences obtained by TV6 News.
00:31According to the documents, the request for the jail visit was made by the then-acting commissioner of police, Richard Smith, who formally sought approval from his boss, deputy commissioner of police, Suzette Martin, of the Investigations and Intelligence Unit.
00:44Smith, in his correspondence to Martin on January 17, 2025, said, open quote,
00:49Ma'am, I'm informing you I have received information from a reliable informant that Rajai Ali, presently detained at the maximum security prison, is requesting a meeting with me.
00:58As a result, I am seeking your permission to meet with the detained Rajai Ali at the earliest possible opportunity.
01:04I am also requesting that senior superintendent Roger Alexander accompany me at this meeting.
01:09If permission is granted, may the necessary arrangements be made with the commission of prisons through your office.
01:14Close quote.
01:16Attorney for detained prison supervisor, Garth Gorda, has called on police commissioner, Alistair Guvaro, to investigate the nature of Alexander's visit to MSP, where she alleged he met with gang leaders.
01:27Alexander shot back yesterday, threatening legal action against the attorney.
01:30On the same day that Smith wrote to DCP Martin, Martin also sent a formal request to then-prison's commissioner, Carlos Carraspe, with the subheading, Request for Permission to Enter the Maximum Security Prison.
01:43In the correspondence, DCP Martin stated, a request has been made for police officers to enter the maximum security prison on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11 a.m. to interview inmate Rajai Ali.
01:54The undermentioned officers will be visiting the maximum security prison to conduct the interview, ACP Richard Smith and senior superintendent of police, Mr. Roger Alexander.
02:05The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service remains committed to working harmoniously and collaborating with all external sectors and truly appreciates your assistance in our fight against crime.
02:14Close quote.
02:15When TV6 News spoke with ACP Smith earlier today via phone, he explained that the meeting at MSP was above board.
02:21Smith said that Alexander was in fact working on him at the time, and remember we were in a state of emergency, and all officers on leave were called out, including Alexander.
02:31He was working with me in the special operations unit, and I decided to take him with me because I have a level of trust in him, and there was nothing strange about that.
02:39Smith cleared the air about speculation and what the conversation with Rajai Ali was about.
02:43He said that Ali provided confidential information, and they spoke about other matters he could not divulge.
02:49Smith said there were no conversations about contracts, and it was purely about policing, as Alexander was at that time still an officer of the TTPS.
02:58He said there was nothing clandestine about the meeting.
03:01Open quote.
03:02We went through the front gates of the prison, and we spent about an hour, an hour and a half, speaking to Mr. Ali.
03:08This is a regular occurrence as we go into the prison from time to time to speak with inmates who may have information to share.
03:15I even visited Mr. Ali a second time after that, and there are also other officers who make these requests.
03:20Close quote.
03:21Smith said it was an unfortunate situation when a senior prison officer makes an allegation against a law enforcement officer, and in so doing also compromised the safety of the inmate.
03:31TV6 News attempted to reach former prison commissioner Carlos Carraspe to inquire whether he had formally granted permission to allow the police officers to enter the MSP.
03:41However, he did not respond to calls or text messages.
03:45Mark Vasant, TV6 News.
03:47We go into the allowances.
04:07We go into the coffinavez.
04:11We go into the return of how to enter the unit and install the Mamre Line.
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