RETIRED acting police sergeant Raymond Julien yesterday said after being held hostage at the Red House, tortured and beaten during the six days of the 1990 attempted coup, he has never received a call from anyone in the hierarchy of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to find out if he is okay.

More than 21 years after the incident, Julien is still waiting for a call.

He was one of six police officers who were assigned to secure the Red House, Port of Spain, on July 27, 1990, while Parliament was in session. They were all unarmed.

Julien was not originally rostered to work at the Red House, but was assigned to the Parliament after the rostered officer went to Tobago.

Inside the Parliament, Julien saw armed gunmen dressed in Muslim garb coming in his direction. He followed a "civilian" and hid inside the Parliament's bathroom.

After hearing repeated sounds of gunfire, Julien took off his police hat, climbed out of the bathroom window and onto the rooftop of the Red House.

He stayed atop the roof for two days. Rain fell on both days.

During his time on top the roof, Julien took off his police uniform because gunshots were being fired in his direction. He was left in his underwear.

On Sunday, Muslimeen gunmen climbed on top the roof and found Julien hiding.

He was forced back into the Red House and was slapped, cuffed, blind-folded and tortured.

Julien was given pants and a jersey marked "Brave Warrior".

On Wednesday, August 1, 1990, Julien was released from the Parliament with the other hostages. He had not eaten for the six days.

After being taken to the army base at Camp Ogden and receiving medical treatment, Julien was taken to the Besson Street Police Station.

At the station, Julien called his family.

They were making arrangements for his wake.

"The information they got was I died in the Red House. They were preparing for my wake," Julien said.

Julien never resumed active duty after his experience during the attempted coup.

He could not perform any other job.

"I do not know how I would perform in any other job. I get angry very quickly and I hardly get any sleep," Julien said.

Julien said he felt abandoned by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

"To this date, I have not had any discussion at the time with the Police Commissioner nor any of his senior officers. No one in administration asked me anything. They never asked me to submit a report or anything," Julien said.

"What!" Sir David Simmons, chairman of the enquiry, said in response.

"Not one of them, not the police commissioner, come right down. I did not have a visit from any of them. As a matter of fact, my salary was stopped," Julien said.

Julien said the Police Service administration "did not even know I was in the Red House".

After visiting the administration office, Julien said his salary was reinstated.

Commissioner Diana Mahabir-Wyatt said, "It was very difficult to hear what you went through and to hear that nobody from the Police Service from that day to this has not bothered to come and talk to you and find out how you are and to check with you."

Julien said years later he met one of his captors while at a mechanic in Longdenville. The man bought beers for Julien.

Julien said he still has resentment for his captors, but his meeting with the man in Longdenville was amicable.

"The way in which he spoke, it would appear to me that he was a bit sorry," Julien said.