PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Former prime minister Keith Rowley Monday said he had been detained on a stopover in Antigua and Barbuda and that his name had been placed on a watch list of the Paris-based International Police (INTERPOL).
Rowley, a geologist who stepped down from active politics in April, said that he was on his way to Montserrat to participate in activities marking the 30th anniversary of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory Scientific Opening last week Monday when he was stopped.
Rowley described the ordeal as a dastardly act of political persecution, accusing state entities in Trinidad and Tobago of fabricating and executing what he called a “vicious defamation campaign.
“This is not just a mistake, it is a deliberate, calculated attempt to tarnish my name on an international stage,” Rowley told a news conference, adding “it is state-sponsored slander”.
Rowley, who said he was stunned to learn that Trinidad and Tobago authorities may have caused his name to be flagged internationally, has since called on both Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and Police Commissioner, Allister Guevarro to indicate what role they might have played in having his name placed on the INTERPOL watch list.
“What crime or interest do I pose that justifies this?” Rowley said. “Let the people of this country know what you are accusing me of — because I have done nothing wrong.”
“If this can be done to a former prime minister, imagine what can be done to the average citizen,” he said.
While the full facts are not yet clear, Rowley’s arguments present a compelling case that he may have been unfairly targeted. His call for transparency, his appeal to public concern over state overreach, and his own political stature strengthen his position. If proven true, this incident could reflect political victimisation, reinforcing his narrative as a defender of democratic principles.
Rowley’s response demonstrates strong advocacy for accountability, positioning him as a figure standing against potential abuses of power. A stance that could bolster public trust in his integrity.