Persad-Bissessar defends decision not to inform country over US radar installation

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has sought to defend her decision not to inform the country as to the installation of US radar systems in Tobago even as she criticised the former administration for leaving the borders of Trinidad and Tobago exposed.

Earlier this week, Persad Bissessar, denied that the US presence on Tobago was for military purposes saying "they are helping us with something to do at the (Arthur NR Robinson International) airport" and that their presence had something to do with a roadway near the airport.

"It is is not a military force as such. We are not about to launch any campaign against Venezuela."

But she has now acknowledged that she kept the real reason for the US military presence here a secret, saying "since it is a sensitive national security issue which provides for the protection of our territory and citizens, I did not think it was wise on Wednesday outside the Parliament to publicly broadcast to narco and human traffickers as well as other criminals that we were installing a radar.

"It would be counterproductive to our citizens' safety," she told the local media, adding that the "security advantage has been lost" now that the upgrades have been exposed to local and transnational criminals.

"The radar is for real-time monitoring and surveillance of our air and sea territory. When we entered government, we found an existing radar system that was functioning sporadically and inefficiently and did not provide cover for our entire territory.

"Our Coast Guard could not even access data in real time, in addition to the system being compromised. I requested assistance for the supply of a radar system from the US Embassy on a temporary basis until we could get a permanent replacement for the existing system," she told the local media, reiterating that "the radar is solely for the monitoring and surveillance of our territory. The radar is not for use in any action in Venezuela."

On Friday, the Office of the Chief Secretary (OCS) of the Tobago House of Assembly said it was seeking full clarification from the government regarding the installation of the radar system at the ANR Robinson International Airport.

- CMC