POLICE have taken the necessary action to protect the life of Dr Keith Rowley after it was reported that his life was threatened.

In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mervyn Richardson said he interviewed Rowley and Opposition Senator Fitzgerald Hinds on Tuesday at his office in relation to the death threat.

"I have set in train a course of action to investigate the matter…I have taken necessary action to bring a degree of protection for Dr Rowley," Richardson said, adding that he will not divulge when Rowley received the threat.

Following the interview, Richardson said he appointed a senior superintendent attached to the Port of Spain Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to lead the investigations.

Speaking at the weekly police press briefing yesterday, public information officer ASP Joanne Archie confirmed the report of a death threat made on Rowley's life. Archie said she could not say when the threat was made, but it came in a letter sent to the Opposition Leader.

Asked about the safety of Rowley, Archie said a threat analysis will be done and if need be protection may be considered for him but for now no plans have been made for additional security for him.

The death threat on the leader of the Opposition, was made public on Tuesday by Minister of National Security Jack Warner during a visit to Trou Macaque, Laventille.

Warner was subsequently criticised by Hinds for making the threat public saying that doing so could prejudice the case. Hinds said the decent thing would have been to allow the police to treat with it out of the public domain.

During a telephone interview with the Express yesterday the National Security Minister explained why he made the threat public. Warner said he did it to let the country know that even with a death threat parliamentarians should still perform their duties.

"I don't have to answer, respond or dignify anything that Mr. Fitzgerald Hinds said whether in newspaper or otherwise. I am very dismissive of Fitzgerald Hinds and have consistently been so and I have no intention of dignifying any foolishness he speaks" Warner said.

"I will repeat it again tomorrow if I have to, no threat real or imagined should stop anyone from doing their duty and that is the bottom line" Warner said.