Portal:Trinidad and Tobago/Selected article/3
The Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt was an attempt to overthrow the government of Trinidad and Tobago, instigated on Friday, 27 July 1990. Over the course of six days, Jamaat al Muslimeen, a Muslim organization, held hostages (including Prime Minister A. N. R. Robinson and other government officials) at the Red House and at the headquarters of Trinidad and Tobago Television. On 1 August, the insurgents surrendered.
According to an interview by former minister of communications Gerald Hadeed, two days before the coup attempt, prime minister Robinson was warned that there might be an attempt to overthrow his government on that day and he was asked to have the scheduled sitting postponed. Robinson declined, however, claiming that he had taken an oath of office and he would not deviate from it in front of a potential threat.[1]
About 24 people died during the coup attempt, with millions in property losses. Among the dead was member of parliament for Diego Martin Central, Leo Des Vignes. Many people saw the coup attempt as the end of the power of the National Alliance for Reconstruction government.[2]
- ^ "Hadeed: I warned Robinson about 1990 coup attempt". Trinidad Express. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ Robert Walker (3 June 2007). "Profile: Jamaat al Muslimeen". BBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2014.