Caption: Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Photo: T&T Parliament
By Prior Beharry
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the United States military’s double-tap strike in international waters in September targeted a pirate boat that had no flag.
She said that Trinidad and Tobago would have access to data from the radar set up by the U.S. military, and that the kidnapping of Derek “Stone” Tardieu, 70, and his wife Caribel, 47, appeared “fishy” after a US$2.5 million ransom was demanded.
Persad-Bissessar spoke to reporters before entering Parliament at the Red House on Tuesday.
Double-tap strike
Asked for her take on the September 2 strike in international waters, Persad-Bissessar said, “I don’t see how it applies to me or Trinidad and Tobago. The United States is a sovereign nation, and they are free to exercise their sovereignty in matters they deem fit. I cannot be judge and jury here to determine whether they are right or wrong; those are not within our jurisdiction or my remit.”
President Donald Trump said on September 2, “The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters, transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States.” It has been revealed that after the first strike, two men were clinging to wreckage and supposedly killed in another one. Lawmakers in the United States have called for the full footage of the strike to be released.
Persad-Bissessar said, “I will say however that if there is a boat or a ship out in international waters, and it doesn’t carry a flag, so you don’t know, does it belong to T&T, does it belong to the US, who does it belongs to?
“Then my advice is, within the law, they are treated like pirates therefore they don’t have any protection with others carrying a flag identifying who they are and where they are going. So they are basically pirates at sea.
@azpnews.com Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says kidnappings are of concern, adding however that the recent kidnapping of a Monos seemed “fishy”. She also discussed the US military radar in Tobago. Video: Alicia Chamely @uncandproud @the_unc_movement @uncusasupporters #kidnapping #radarsystem #monosisland #homelandsecurity #concerns
An ally of the United States, Persad-Bissessar previously stated to “kill them violently” when asked about American military action on alleged drug boats. About 87 people have been killed in strikes targeting narco-traffickers in the Americas and the Pacific.
Asked whether people clinging to wreckage might be a threat and whether the strike could be illegal, Persad-Bissessar replied, “Again, it’s U.S. action. It’s not Trinidad and Tobago’s. I don’t have that information. They don’t tell me when they plan to strike a ship or boat; we are not advised, and it is a security issue for them. I say it must be done within the law, and I have seen no evidence that Trinidad and Tobago is acting unlawfully.”
Asked if she would seek more information from the U.S., Persad-Bissessar said, “The United States is a sovereign nation. It is entitled to carry out its duties as it sees fit. Trinidad and Tobago cannot be judge and jury with respect to their actions.”
Tobago radar
When told that Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said the radar in Tobago could be an asset in the Tardieu kidnapping, Persad-Bissessar replied, “If the minister says that, we shall see whether it can assist or not. We will have to wait.”
Alexander said, “Definitely. Rumors were spreading, and we had little to say at the time. Boats are coming in and we don’t know. We are trying to strategically organize technology at its best to prevent these things from happening. Now that it happened, what do we do? We must prepare.”
Asked who is getting information from that radar, Persad-Bissessar said to ask Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge. AZP News sent a WhatsApp message to Sturge but there was no response at time of publishing.
She noted that national security issues were sometimes too sensitive to disclose publicly.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Our own military personnel would have access to that data, and we will have to ask Minister Sturge who else is involved. I know for sure Trinidad and Tobago personnel are involved in that exercise.”
Tardieu kidnapping was the seventh for this year; when asked if there might be an upsurge in this crime, Persad-Bissessar said, “I don’t have the data in front of me to say whether there is an upsurge, but every kidnapping is a cause for concern. We have engaged our international partners, notably the United States, to assist with our border security.”
Regarding Monos Island, she said she did not want to pronounce further because the matter would be before the police and courts, but it is “fishy” that someone would ask for US$2.5 million. She added that more investigations will provide more answers.
Chief Secretary and National Security Council
Asked whether Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Farley Augustine should sit on the National Security Council, Persad-Bissessar said, “In the fullness of time, all things can be considered. We will make a decision at a future point. As it stands, the Chief Secretary is already engaged with security matters on a case-by-case basis. Yes, we will consider it.”
