A woman who allegedly posted an image of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s private residence on social media and urged the Venezuelan government to target it has been ordered detained, the Trinidad Guardian reported Friday.
According to the publication, the detention order—signed on November 12 and gazetted on Thursday—directs authorities to take the woman into custody for her online comments. The order states that she “made and published public posts and/or comments on social media addressed to the Venezuelan Government in an attempt to influence public opinion in a manner likely to be prejudicial to public safety.”
The document further alleges that the posts “invited violence on the Prime Minister, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and members of the public by Venezuela and/or external persons,” amounting to what it described as an imminent threat to public safety.
The situation unfolds amid heightened tensions between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The Maduro administration has accused the twin-island nation of assisting the United States in efforts to effect regime change in Caracas under the cover of anti-drug operations. Persad-Bissessar has rejected the allegation, stating that her government supports Washington’s efforts to combat illegal drug trafficking. She has previously said that those involved in the drug trade should be killed “violently.”
Venezuela’s National Assembly recently passed a motion declaring Persad-Bissessar persona non grata.
Trinidad and Tobago remains under a state of emergency (SoE) until January, and the detention order is one of four issued by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander under the emergency powers.
According to the Guardian, two of the other orders relate to alleged members of an Organized Crime Group (OCG), including one accused of large-scale trafficking of illegal drugs, firearms, ammunition, contraband goods, human trafficking, and fuel. The order states that the group had been planning violent reprisal attacks involving high-powered weapons.
Another detainee identified in the Gazette is said to be the leader of the “Valley Monsters,” reportedly linked to larger criminal networks and implicated in murders, armed robberies, and narcotics and firearms trafficking.
Authorities have not released the names of the detainees.
