Rowley on Interpol watch list

Jul 22, 2025 News

---

…PNM demands answers from PM, CoP

…TTPS says Rowley not on watch list

Trinidad Express – The Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) is demanding answers from the Government on former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley being placed on an Interpol watch list.

Rowley made the revelation during a news conference at his home in Glencoe on Monday morning that while in Antigua en route to Monsterrat he experienced delays with immigration as a result of his name being on an Interpol watch list.

In a release Monday, the PNM said it notes with grace concern the experience of the former prime minister.

“The PNM fully supports the call made by Dr Rowley, and demands that the Commissioner of Police, Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar, Prime Minister and Head of the National Security Council, and the Attorney General John Jeremie, provide immediate and complete disclosure on this matter,” the release stated.

“The country must be told if, in fact, Dr Rowley’s name has been placed on an Interpol Watch List with the knowledge and/or involvement of local authorities, and if so, when this has happened,” the release added.

The PNM noted that Rowley served this country for over 45 years in public office, and almost ten years in the office of prime minister.

“He is also a well-respected regional leader who engaged in Caricom duties until demitting office as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago recently. In the circumstances, it behoves the local authorities and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to treat this matter with extreme urgency and provide clarification and transparency to the former prime minister and citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,” the release stated.

“We in the PNM demand nothing less and we await the substantive response from the Prime Minister and the Commissioner of Police.”

Meanwhile, CMC reported that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) on Monday said that the name of former prime minister Dr.Keith Rowley was not placed on an INTERPOL watch list and that it remains “committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens, and will continue to provide clear, factual updates as the matter develops.”

Rowley told a news conference earlier that he had been detained and questioned upon arrival in Antigua and Barbuda while en route to Montserrat last week.

“This is not just a mistake; it is a deliberate, calculated attempt to tarnish my name on an international stage,” said Rowley.
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 played in having his name placed on the INTERPOL watch list.

In a statement, the TTPS said it had “taken note of recent public statements” by Rowley, “who alleges that he was flagged on an INTERPOL watch list during his recent travels.”

The TTPS said that Rowley’s call for an explanation from national authorities, including the Commissioner of Police, suggests “that his placement was not erroneous, but rather a calculated attempt to defame him on the international stage.”

“In light of these assertions, the TTPS, through its INTERPOL Bureau, promptly initiated a review of internal systems. Comprehensive checks were conducted across INTERPOL’s secure databases, which yielded a definitive result: Dr Rowley is not listed on any INTERPOL watch list or international notice.

“No alerts, flags, or warrants are associated with his name in INTERPOL’s systems. Moreover, the TTPS confirms that it has not submitted, nor caused to be submitted, any information to INTERPOL that would justify such a listing. There is no record, directive, or procedural action from any department within the TTPS that supports the allegation of local involvement in the matter,” the TTPS said.

It stated that it is vital to clarify the nature of INTERPOL’s governance, noting that the organisation functions under rigorous protocols that require judicial documentation or formal prosecutorial requests for any individual to be listed.

“These procedures are managed exclusively through each member state’s National Central Bureau. The Commissioner of Police does not hold the authority to unilaterally add or remove individuals from INTERPOL systems. Such actions are governed by international legal standards, not domestic discretion.

“With respect to the suggestion of political interference or state-sponsored defamation, the TTPS firmly maintains its position as an independent and apolitical institution. No evidence has emerged indicating that the organisation, or any of its members, has participated in politically motivated conduct regarding Dr. Rowley.”

The TTPS said it “urges responsible dialogue in the public sphere, especially when reputational harm and institutional trust are at stake.

“While public scrutiny and transparency are vital to democratic processes, it is equally important that commentary is grounded in verified fact. The TTPS remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens and will continue to provide clear, factual updates as the matter develops,” it added.

During the news conference, Rowley told reporters, “If this can be done to a former prime minister, imagine what can be done to the average citizen.”

---

• Dr. Keith Rowley, Faris Al-Rawi, Interpol watch list, People's National Movement, TTPS

---