00:00I can tell you that there are very serious death threats that are prevailing right now
00:04which have been made and which have been reported to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
00:10Several people connected to Sunday's fatal boating collision have reportedly received death threats
00:16according to Senior Counsel Faris Alrawi who represents persons who were aboard the Bambaleo
00:23vessel. There have been very publicly made posts which we've forwarded to the police
00:31that's one method in which death threats have been communicated and then secondly
00:36communications have been received by them. I won't go into the particulars of that.
00:41Alrawi confirms that a minor is among the persons who have received threats.
00:47The death threats that have come so far involve death threats to a teenager, family members
00:55and other persons and when we're dealing with a child and the targeting of a child we have
01:01to take special caution. I'm taking my own rule of not going into the evidence and therefore
01:08we'll stop at that point but I wish to confirm to you that no child was involved in managing
01:14this craft at all. At no point in the day, at no point involved in this incident and I will
01:20say no more than that.
01:21Now the question from everyone is, yes you are representing your clients but what would give you the conviction
01:29to make such a statement that is indirect opposition to the account of persons who are on the vessel?
01:37So to answer your question would mean that I would have to break my own rules of engagement which the
01:42law prescribes.
01:42That means that I would have to go into a he say she say in relation to the evidence.
01:46As an attorney at law, I act upon instructions.
01:50A photograph of Alrawi and the child said to be at the center of the allegations has also been circulating
01:57on social media.
01:58It serves that you are very close to this entire matter. Do you see that that compromises your integrity
02:05in any way and anything that you would have to say on the matter?
02:09Well the fact is that as a person who has occupied a few other positions, you will find perhaps around
02:14six to seven hundred thousand photographs of me and many other people in Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere.
02:19So I wouldn't go into that line of inquiry. I have been in practice for 30 years. I've held a
02:26few positions
02:28including the Office of Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs and other ministries
02:31and I will discharge my obligations in compliance with the law, the Legal Profession Act and the standards of our
02:37profession.
02:38So the clients are not acquaintances or friends of yours?
02:43Is that really relevant?
02:45Six people have now been confirmed dead with all bodies being recovered while others are nursing injuries.
02:53Alrawi extended condolences on behalf of his clients on what he described as a shared tragedy.
02:59The mothers on board that vessel are weeping and grieving for the mothers who have lost their children. This is
03:09a shared tragedy.
03:11Meantime, Alrawi notes there are many legal avenues that may be taken or pursued by anyone involved
03:17and by the relevant authorities, including inquiries under the Shipping Act, the Coroner's Act, possible criminal charges
03:26and even civil matters such as defamation.
03:30Are you actually pursuing those routes on the appropriate hands right now?
03:33The only route that I am pursuing on behalf of my clients is the route of assistance to the investigative
03:40authorities.
03:41There is no claim or action by our clients in respect of anyone.
03:46Alrawi says his clients have been and continue to cooperate fully with the authorities.
03:52I can confirm to you that my clients have given multiple statements to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
03:59and that they have delivered GPS information and GPS devices which will no doubt scientifically speak to speed,
04:09distance, direction, minute by minute and moment by moment involved in this tragedy.
04:15He adds his clients are looking forward to what he describes as proper inquiries.
04:22Of course that leaves room in the event of the launch of any investigation to have a view on whether
04:28it is properly launched or not.
04:30So what I'm saying does not exclude the fact that positions may have to be taken as to whether something
04:36is being properly done in a full subway.
04:39Would you say it would be that you are fairly optimistic or certain that your clients will be exonerated?
04:50It would be irresponsible of me to speak to outcomes in law.
04:55My instructions are clear and cogent and are backed by independent verification factors.
05:05However, that's only part of the evidence.
05:08I believe that a proper process of interrogating all of the evidence from all persons is required.
05:14Thank you very much.
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