Sabga , Genevieve conversation released...

An audio recording referenced in an affidavit filed in the High Court on Friday by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander is now at the centre of an escalating public debate over the continued detention of 69-year-old businesswoman Star Sabga under a Preventive Detention Order (PDO). The recording surfaced on social media yesterday, two days after Sabga’s niece, Genevieve Hadeed, and her husband, businessman Dominic Hadeed, were released

In the 15-minute recording, Sabga and Genevieve Hadeed are heard in a private telephone conversation during which Sabga was openly critical of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, her relationship with the current United States administration, and the Government generally. Sabga accused the Prime Minister of “destroying the country” and also made harsh remarks about Attorney General John Jeremie and other members of the administration.

Particular reference was made to comments made by Jeremie in Parliament on June 10 regarding the so-called “one per cent”, including his remarks about “the newspapers they own”.

Telephone Conversation:

At one point in the conversation, Sabga said: “I don’t understand it. This is not going to turn out nice, Gene ... somebody getting a bullet in the head.”

She later added: “Something has to happen for this to cool down ... and what have to happen for this to cool down is the death of one of her Member for Parliament.”

In another section of the recording, Sabga is heard saying: “The only way this thing going to end is when ah bullet fly ... that is the only way it is going to stop.”

Alexander’s affidavit, filed in response to Sabga’s constitutional challenge to her detention, also refers to racially charged remarks allegedly made during the conversation.

The Homeland Security Minister stated that he instructed security agencies to identify statements made by Sabga that, in the State’s view, corroborated intelligence reports concerning what authorities describe as a broader plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and members of her Government.

According to Alexander, the material relied upon to justify the continuation of Sabga’s PDO includes statements and audio recordings obtained from Sabga’s landline telephone and Genevieve Hadeed’s mobile phone shortly before their arrests.

Leaked Sabga/Hadeed audio reveals angry attacks on PM

A leaked audio recording of an intercepted telephone conversation allegedly between Star Sabga and her niece Genevieve Hadeed reveals Sabga launching a series of angry attacks on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, urging her removal from office.In an affidavit filed in court last Friday, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander disclosed the intercepted conversations as he defended his decision to keep Sabga in preventive detention.

In the leaked tape, which created a stir across social media yesterday, Sabga repeatedly lashed out at the Prime Minister, accusing her administration of targeting people who had nothing to do with crime and alleging that innocent people were being unfairly accused.Hadeed lamented that “our time is over”.Sabga questioned why that should be the case, to which Hadeed replied: “We were supporters of the PNM—that is why they saying we had too much under them.”

Hadeed at one stage interjected, saying that the Attorney General “was trying to say that the US have their special services and if you are doing crime they will get to you”. Sabga rejected that assertion, describing it as a “damn lie” and insinuating that United States President Donald Trump disliked Persad-Bissessar and was refusing to take her calls because of her race.