Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Photo: T&T Parliament

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Monday accused the main opposition People’s  National Movement (PNM) of being financed by the “local drug mafia” of fuelling an anti-United States “narrative” as concerns continue to be raised here over the installation of radar systems by the United States military in Tobago.

The political Leader of the PNM’s Tobago Council Ancil Dennis has since called on the government to remove the military radar it recently installed at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago.

In a video circulated on social media, Dennis accused the government of “taking us for fools”  as he pointed to the radar while standing on a road near to the airport.

“You see that camouflage thing spinning in there? “That’s the road that the Prime Minister said a few days ago was being built by a foreign government to assist us here in Tobago.

“According to your Chief Secretary this is a refuelling plane, and according to the MP for Tobago East, this camouflage device is standard international upgrades to our new airport,”  he  added.

Last week, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said he was unaware of the radar system, prompting a meeting between him, Attorney General John Jeremie, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge and Chief of Defence Staff Commodore Don Polo last weekend.

In a statement posted on X, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, said that “many persons, groups, politicians, and businesses who are profiting from drug trafficking are fuelling this anti-American narrative.

“The law-abiding citizens know that we have suffered for decades with violent, out-of-control murders and crime. The majority are happy for the help we are getting,”  she said, encouraging citizens “to look at the persons, politicians, groups, businesses, and media that are actively against the drug interdiction efforts.

“When people show you who they are, believe them,”  she said, adding that “it is not surprising that the PNM, a party long suspected of being financed by the local drug mafia and connected to numerous allegations of paedophilia, will be against the Government’s anti-drug and anti-human-trafficking efforts.

“The PNM are concerned with covering up allegations of paedophilia within their hierarchy, as well as protecting the illegal profits of their drug mafia financiers over the safety of citizens,”  Persad-Bissessar wrote.”

The Trinidad and Tobago government leader, who has said that those involved in the illegal drugs trade should be killed “violently”  has backed Washington’s so-called intervention in the Caribbean to eradicate the drugs trade.

But political observers say that Washington is also engaged with regime change in Venezuela, whose leader, Nicolas Maduro, it has accused of  being the head of the drug gang in the South American country.

The US military has carried out several hits on vessels, killing more than 80  people, including two Trinidad and Tobago nationals, without providing any proof that they were engaged in drugs.

Last week, US President Donald Trump  said that land strikes against Venezuela will start “very soon”.

Last week, the chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine visited Trinidad and Tobago for  talks with Prime Minister Persad Bissessar and his visit comes as Trump has ramped up its military presence in the Caribbean Sea ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser  have also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission. In addition, the US largest carrier, the Gerald Forde has joined the build-up.

Persad-Bissessar said that the meeting with Caine focused on tackling narco-trafficking and regional security-not Venezuela and that contrary to public speculation, she was the one who requested the US to put up a radar system here.

“Months ago I made the request to the local US Embassy for a US-supplied radar as a temporary solution for our poor surveillance capabilities. A system will also be installed at a site in Trinidad until a permanent replacement for our ineffective existing radar system can be installed.”

Last 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 later 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.

Defence Minister, Wayne Sturge, speaking at a news conference over the last weekend, urged citizens to avoid “panic mode” over the presence of United States marines and technical personnel in Tobago.

“The airport in Crown Point is not a launchpad for any military operations. In the Atlantic, very close by, is the USS Gerald Ford, the largest and most destructive moving object ever built, and it is there for that purpose. There is no need for our country, particularly Tobago, to be used for any military operation.” he said, insisting that Trinidad and Tobago has benefited from US operations in the region even as Washington pursues its own strategic objectives.

According to Sturge, the installation underway at ANR Robinson Airport involves new radar equipment intended to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s surveillance capabilities, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and the increasingly concerning trend of human trafficking into Tobago.

In her statement on Monday, Persad-Bissessar, reiterated that Tobago’s air and sea territory are the most secure they have ever been, and the people of Tobago are the safest they have ever been.

“I am ultimately responsible for their safety and security and will ensure they never have a bloody year like 2024. The 2024 murders in Tobago were mainly driven by fights for drug turf. A number of Trinidadian criminals went to Tobago and sought to create havoc with gang violence and drug trafficking.

“I requested a temporary radar system be installed here, and I am thankful that the US gave us one of the best systems available and the assistance to install and operate it,”  she wrote. (CMC)