CONFIDENTIAL
GONADA
Report by British High Commission, Port of Spain
Right No.
(i)
There is no overt evidence of an intentional policy of imprisonment without trial, but police methods are haphazard and the period before trial may often be longer than it should.
(ii) The police and defence force have been
brutal in the past with the object of intimidating the opposition. Harassment of the opposition is likely to continue.
(iii) There is no slavery.
(iv) The policy of harassing the opposition
may result in some curtailment of freedom of speech
the New Jewel Movement
Rating suggested by Post
has had to produce its weekly newspaper Clandestinel on account of the Government's legislation requiring very costly registration of newspapers, and the radio is completely Government controlled.
(v) The Prime Minister would put pressure on the
judiciary if he could, but there is no evidence so far that their independence is seriously impaired.
(vi)
Comment by Caribbean Department
Since in practice the independence of the courts is not seriously impaired, a rating of 5 seems too high. We would suggest a rating of 1.
Overtly the unions have freedom of action but in practice the system and the conciliatory powers of the Ministry of Labour are used to favour those unions which support the Prime Minister.
(vii) There are no restrictions on emigration.
4
5
о
6
5
2
о
CONFIDENTIAL
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