The gang threat against members of Parliament last Friday was nothing more than a “grand deception” by the Government aimed at paving the way for another state of emergency (SoE).So said Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales yesterday, during a news confe­rence at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Charles Street, Port of Spain.The Opposition Member of Parliament for Arouca/Lopinot was commenting on a statement made by Attor­ney General John Jeremie during Wednesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, in which he referred to a “national security incident” last Friday.According to Jeremie, the threat prompted increased security at Parliament and heightened protection for several Government officials.Speaking during the debate on the Parole Bill, 2026, Jeremie said: “I am autho­rised by the Commissioner of Police to say that last Friday, that a member of one of those gangs in that community (Belmont) sparked a national security incident, such that all of us in this Parliament were protected to a higher degree, and certain officials in the Government were given additional protection.”Contacted for comment on Wed­nesday, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro confirmed the incident but said he could not disclose details.“I can confirm that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service responded to a security-related matter last Friday which required enhanced protective measures at Parliament and for a small number of Government officials.“The TTPS acted out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with established national security protocols,” he said.The Commissioner added: “Given the nature of the matter and consistent with our obligations under national security, I am not at liberty to disclose operational details of the incident, the TTPS’ response or specifics regarding individuals.Setting the stage forSoE extensionBut Gonzales said yesterday there was no heightened sense of police presence in Parliament last Friday.He told journalists: “We were not informed as members of Parliament that there were threats on our lives. We were not briefed. The Leader of the Opposition was there, and there was no discussion with respect to security around the Red House and within the precincts of Parliament and in the parliamentary chamber.”He described last Friday as a “normal day” and no­ted that the only unusual occurrence was how quickly Government officials left Parliament as the Opposition expected a long sitting late into the night because of what was on the agenda.“Shortly after, we observed why Government MPs did not stay around because they had another event at the Diplomatic Centre that would have been related to the visit by the Indian minister,” he continued.Apart from that, Gonzales said there was nothing unusual in terms of the security pre­sence around the Red House.He added: “We were not even informed that there are some security concerns and, therefore, we should be careful in how we venture outside or anything. Nothing of that nature. And that’s why I’m saying what the Attorney General said was nothing but a grand deception and a distraction.”Gonzales said: “But since then, there have been sittings in Parliament. (Jeremie) was set­ting the stage for an extension of the state of emergency.”He said when Defence Minister Wayne Sturge and Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander spoke in Parliament last Friday, they said nothing about threats against Parliament that day.Gonzales said: “This Government has consistently lied to us with respect to reasons for the calling of a state of emergency. They have consis­tently and they are prepared to continue to lie to us with respect to keeping this country under a state of emergency.“What transpired (Wed­nesday) that led to newspaper headlines (yesterday) morning in Trinidad and Tobago was the Government, through the Attorney General, setting the stage for an extension of a state of emer­gency in Trinidad and Tobago by lies and deception,” said Gonzales.