Video contradicts TTPS account as Labour leaders prepare legal challenge over Labour Day arrests

Questions are mounting over the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service's justification for the arrest of activist Alyssa Phillip after video footage emerged contradicting a key claim made by police in their official statement on the incident. In a lengthy release issued following the controversial Labour Day arrests in Fyzabad, the TTPS stated that checks were made with trade union representatives who confirmed that Phillip and members of her protest group were not part of the authorised Labour Day procession. However, cellphone video circulating publicly tells a different story. The footage shows Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin engaged in conversation with National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) General Secretary Michael Annisette moments before Phillip's arrest. During the exchange, Annisette is heard indicating that Phillip was marching with his group. The video also appears to show Martin questioning a banner carried by Phillip bearing the words, "Jesus says Kaia and Joshua deserve justice," a reference to the police shooting death of Joshua Samaroo and the wounding of his common-law wife, Kaia Sealy. Seemingly surprised by the objection, Annisette is heard asking, "She can't have no banner?" Speaking at a media conference in Port of Spain, Annisette said the matter extends far beyond a single arrest and touches directly on the constitutional rights of citizens. "We have sought senior legal advice because there are serious constitutional issues involved," he said. "The labour movement must determine whether fundamental rights were breached and what action is necessary moving forward." Annisette dismissed suggestions that Phillip was not authorised to participate in the procession, maintaining that she had been invited to march with the Seamen and Waterfront Workers' Trade Union contingent. He argued that Labour Day has historically been an inclusive event attended by workers, students, activists, community organisations and ordinary citizens exercising their democratic rights. He further questioned why concerns about participants were never raised during discussions between organisers and law enforcement before the event. The veteran trade unionist also criticised what he described as an unprecedented police presence at the annual workers' celebration. "There were armed officers, riot police and a level of security deployment that I have never witnessed at Labour Day celebrations before," he said. Gajadhar-Inniss argued that accepting the police rationale would create a dangerous precedent under which any citizen joining a public march could potentially face detention. "The labour movement has always defended the right of people to speak freely, organise freely and challenge authority," he said. "Those rights must never be taken for granted."— Story by I.A.N News TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT CALL 868-225–3250 WATCH IAN ALLEYNE LIVE: WEBSITE: http://www.ianalleyne.org/ Subscribe to Ian Alleyne YOUTUBE:    / ianalleyne   Donate via PAYPAL: [email protected] FOLLOW IAN ALLEYNE LIVE ON: FACEBOOK:   / ianalleynenetwork   INSTAGRAM:   / ianalleyne   DOWNLOAD THE IAN ALLEYNE APP GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/…/details… APPLE STORE: https://apps.apple.com/…/i…/id1291774512 TO ADVERTISE CALL OR TEXT IAN DIRECTLY @ 1-868-225-3250 OR 1-868-294-4081 TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON CRIMES AND RELATED ISSUES, CALL: 868-390-4426, 868-330-4426, 868-290-4426 & 868-294-4081 VISIT http://www.ianalleyne.org/ CONTRIBUTIONS ARE APPRECIATED AND ARE ACCEPTED AT ANY FIRST CITIZENS BANK AC# 1898739 OR PAYPAL @ [email protected] #CrimeWatch #CrimeWatchLive #IanAlleyneNetwork #IanAlleyne #IanAlleyneLive #IanAlleyneLiveStream #TheHuntIsOn #LockedOn #NewsBeforeNews #BreakingNews #BreakingNewsTT #News #TodayNews #LatestNews #LiveNews #NewsUpdate #Trinidad #Tobago #TNT #TrinidadAndTobago #Caribbean #CaribbeanNews #Crime #CrimeNews #TrueCrime #CrimeWatch #CrimeAlert #Investigation #Justice #Wanted #Police #LawAndOrder #Exposed #TheTruth #Corruption #PoliticalNews #PublicInterest #Hurricane #WeatherAlert #CarCrash #RoadAccident #Trending #TrendingNow #Trendingshorts #Shorts #YouTubeShorts #Viral #ViralNews #LiveStream #WatchNow #NewsToday #StayInformed #CommunityNews #PublicSafety #Breaking #Exclusive #DevelopingStory #Emergency #CurrentAffairs #Journalism #Reporter #Media #COVID19 #Coronavirus #NewYork #London #Miami #Travel #Lifestyle #Motivation #InstaDaily #FollowMe #Like #Hot #Wetting #Ian #Livestream #Truth #Awareness #Information #CitizenJournalism #InvestigativeReporting #CrimeInvestigation #EmergencyResponse #TopStory #HeadlineNews #NewsAlert #LocalNews #WorldNews #CaribbeanLife #Trini #Tobagonian #MustWatch #DailyNews #PublicInterestNews #JusticeForAll #CommunityWatch #SafetyFirst #CrimeReport #BreakingCrime #TrendingNews #ViralContent #FYP #ExplorePage #DigitalMedia #SocialMedia #ContentCreator