MINISTER of Homeland Security Roger Alexander has dismissed Opposition criticism and accusations that the State is abusing its interception powers amid controversy over a leaked audio recording allegedly involving Genevieve Hadeed and her relative Star Sabga.The leaked recording, of an alleged intercepted telephone conversation between Hadeed and Sabga, has triggered concern among Opposition members, several of whom have taken to social media to criticise the disclosure of material linked to an ongoing police investigation.The audio emerged following the release of Genevieve and her husband Blue Waters owner Dominic from detention on Thursday, while Sabga remains detained without charge and is awaiting the hearing of a constitutional challenge seeking her release.According to the leaked 15-minute recording, the two women were engaged in a private telephone conversation during which Sabga allegedly made comments critical of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General John Jeremie and members of the Government.Former prime minister Stuart Young questioned whether the interception was lawfully authorised under the Interception of Communications Act and how the recording entered the public domain.Responding to questions from the Express yesterday, Alexander said the legal framework governing interceptions was not new.“The PNM must read and understand that this new generation of people is not the people of the past who only saw life through the PNM matrix. Ask the PNM if this is the first time that process was used, or if they can remember there is a matter still before a court where that process forms part of the evidence,” he said.Alexander also criticised the Opposition’s wider claims of abuse of power, pointing to recent comments and actions by Opposition members.“Ask if they think it’s an abuse when a Member of Parliament stands and burns documents he says were served on them from a court of competent jurisdiction. That is how the PNM is teaching society how to treat lawful documents,” he said.He added that the Opposition had previously questioned decisions by the Director of Public Prosecutions and members of the Judiciary.“So right now, all laws, all decisions, all statements are an abuse only when it was not made or done by them,” Alexander said.His comments followed an incident on Thursday night in which PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales burned a court order served on the party in relation to financing arrangements for its Balisier House headquarters. Gonzales said the Opposition would not be intimidated by the legal proceedings.Alexander said the Opposition appeared not to understand the legal basis for PDOs.“It is quite clear that Opposition members do not understand the procedure,” he said.“They do not understand the reasoning behind the PDOs. They don’t want to acknowledge the rule of law because if they are making those statements, it is quite obvious that it is in fact law in Trinidad and Tobago.”He compared the criticism of PDOs to objecting to other lawful enforcement actions.“It’s like telling someone don’t charge someone for kidnapping, don’t charge someone for larceny. What they are saying makes no logical sense,” Alexander said.He urged critics to familiarise themselves with the legal framework, adding: “It seems not all persons who study law understand law.”