(Trinidad Express) The country’s top telecommunications companies have both distanced themselves from any involvement in the illegal wiretapping of their customers’ phones.
State-controlled Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) would not comment in detail about the wiretapping of phones belonging to Members of Parliament, private citizens and President George Maxwell Richards by the Strategic Intelligence Agency (SIA) but the company is willing to co-operate in any investigation into the matter.
The wiretapping disclosure was made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Parliament last Friday and on Sunday, she said further that so far-reaching was the unit’s influence, that TSTT and privately owned Digicel were “commanded” to open their facilities to the (SIA) for its wiretapping operations.
“Do you remember there was a time in Trinidad when people used to say use a Digicel phone, don’t use a TSTT phone? … They were right.”
She said “the facilities there (at TSTT) were being utilised, but TSTT was commanded so to do and I’m told that thereafter, that Digicel also was commanded … to allow their facilities to be used” by the SIA.
Mobile telecoms provider Digicel insisted yesterday it has never spied on its phone customers.
“In light of the reports in the media on the issue of wiretapping, Digicel would like to reassure its customers that Digicel never monitored its customers’ accounts or is aware of any details emerging from the surveillance of such by the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA). In addition, Digicel does not have the capacity to carry out these actions,” a statement from the company said.
“Further, the equipment used for national surveillance was purchased and is therefore owned by the Ministry of National Security. Digicel has had no control or insights into who has been monitored.”
The company added: “Further, the equipment used for national surveillance was purchased and is therefore owned and operated by the Ministry of National Security. Digicel has had no control or insight into who has been monitored. Digicel was also assured that the equipment would be used solely for investigating issues of national security and our compliance was therefore in keeping with our licence to operate.”
TSTT said yesterday it will co-operate with the authorities on any investigations into wire-tapping.
The company said in a statement: “Following recent disclosures on the issue of wire-tapping and the decision of the Government to engage the office of the DPP to consider further enquiries, TSTT wishes to decline from making any public comment on the matter at this time. The public can be assured, however, that the company will fully co-operate with the relevant authorities on any investigations into the matter.”
Lisa Agard, executive vice president, Mobile Services and vice president, Legal, at TSTT told the media yesterday at an event hosted by her company that she believed an investigation into the wiretapping issue will clear the air on TSTT’s involvement.
