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LESS than two hours after Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge declined to confirm whether Defence Force officers were ordered to report to base immediately, the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs has denied that there was any change in the national security arrangements.

In a media release on October 31, the ministry said government has noted a "heightened sense of anxiety and concern in the national community based on false news reports suggesting that there will be an imminent change in the status of the national and regional security environment."

During the Urgent Questions segment in the House of Representatives, ahead of the debate on the extension of the state of emergency, Sturge cited Standing Orders 27 (g) as he declined to answer whether Defence Force personnel were asked to report to base.