Caption: A vessel of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard
‘… things were left to fall apart, we’ve found ourselves in a pool of manure and are now scrambling to fix things’
By Alicia Chamely
ACCORDING to my calculations, since 2015, we have paid a total of TT$1,726,962,457.34 for 14 coast guard vessels.
In 2015, the People’s Partnership (PP) Government purchased 12 Damen Vessels for a total of TT$1.2 billion.
In 2021, the current People’s National Movement (PNM) Government purchased two Austal Cape Class patrol vessels for US$ 77.2 million or by today’s exchange rate TT$526,962,457.34.
With that gigantic investment and number of vessels, one would assume they would be exceptionally cared for and we would have some of the securest maritime borders in the Caribbean.
Wrong!
I was down the islands last weekend – I know, how westerly white of me – and the sight of Staubles Bay left me furious. There parked up were all our crime fighting boats, sitting still, looking all sad.
Coincidentally, that same day the ministry of national security would hold a news conference and address the state of maritime fleet.
Chief of Defense Staff Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel revealed that both Austal patrol vessels and six Damen vessels were out of commission awaiting repairs.
Daniel tried to pin “global logistical” issues on importing the parts need to repair the boats, adding that much of the equipment on the vessels was now obsolete and needed replacing.
Bruh.
‘No one is hopping on a jet and arriving in Piarco with a suitcase full of uncut cocaine and 25 AR-15s’
My honest opinion is this; as is customary in Trinidad and Tobago maintenance was not a priority, things were left to fall apart, we’ve found ourselves in a pool of manure and are now scrambling to fix things.
Again, my opinion, but I know I am not the only one thinking it. I mean look at our police vehicles and the fiasco that is the Vehicle Maintenance Company of Trinidad & Tobago (VMCOTT).
Moving on, Daniel assured the now highly irritated, yet not surprised public, works were ongoing and despite the larger vessels being out of service the coast guard was still in the position to protect our borders. Yeah buddy, whatever helps you sleep at night.
He said as repairs and refittings are completed the larger vessels will be bought back into service on a phased basis. Unfortunately, guns, drugs and trafficked humans don’t follow such a strict regime of phases.
So when can we expect a fully up and running fleet?
Well along came Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds with that answer. Fourteen months! One! Four! Months! I want to think Hinds was honestly embarrassed to admit this, but not even that deep down I know this admission came with no shame.
‘The state of our Coast Guard, our number one tool in crime reduction and prevention, is yet another example that no one is serious about ending crime‘
It is well known that Trinidad for the longest time has been a transshipment point for illegal guns and drugs. Over the past two years we have seen an uptick in the use of high-powered weapons being used by gangs and other criminals. With the continued political crisis in
Due to the situation in Venezuela, we are recording more cases of human trafficking, illegal immigration and the smuggling of contraband into our country. All of this is coming through our maritime borders. No one is hopping on a jet and arriving in Piarco with a suitcase full of uncut cocaine and 25 AR-15s. Nope they are coming in during the dead of night or, hell at this point, middle of the day via boats, big and small.
Therefore, it is safe to say that anyone with at least one functioning brain cell would prioritise border protection and our coast guard, as key tools in the elimination of gang and other narcotic related crime, which includes money laundering etc.
I… I don’t really know where to go with this. I shouldn’t be disappointed, as you think I would have learned by now that there is no such thing as reason or sense in T&T, but I am.
So, while those boats are being dry docked, or awaiting repair, we, the citizenry, will continue to play what is become our nation’s favourite guessing game, “gun shots or fireworks?”
The state of our Coast Guard, our number one tool in crime reduction and prevention, is yet another example that no one is serious about ending crime. We love to demean the coast guard, but let’s face it, they are simply working with the tools they are given. As we have learned the tools, they currently have are insufficient to handle the job expected of them.
So, our borders remain open, the drugs come in, the guns come in, and all we get from those in charge are excuses and promises.
T&T’s Guessing Game – Gun Shots or Fireworks?
Caption: A vessel of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard
‘… things were left to fall apart, we’ve found ourselves in a pool of manure and are now scrambling to fix things’
ACCORDING to my calculations, since 2015, we have paid a total of TT$1,726,962,457.34 for 14 coast guard vessels.
In 2015, the People’s Partnership (PP) Government purchased 12 Damen Vessels for a total of TT$1.2 billion.
In 2021, the current People’s National Movement (PNM) Government purchased two Austal Cape Class patrol vessels for US$ 77.2 million or by today’s exchange rate TT$526,962,457.34.
With that gigantic investment and number of vessels, one would assume they would be exceptionally cared for and we would have some of the securest maritime borders in the Caribbean.
Wrong!
I was down the islands last weekend – I know, how westerly white of me – and the sight of Staubles Bay left me furious. There parked up were all our crime fighting boats, sitting still, looking all sad.
Coincidentally, that same day the ministry of national security would hold a news conference and address the state of maritime fleet.
Chief of Defense Staff Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel revealed that both Austal patrol vessels and six Damen vessels were out of commission awaiting repairs.
Daniel tried to pin “global logistical” issues on importing the parts need to repair the boats, adding that much of the equipment on the vessels was now obsolete and needed replacing.
Bruh.
‘No one is hopping on a jet and arriving in Piarco with a suitcase full of uncut cocaine and 25 AR-15s’
My honest opinion is this; as is customary in Trinidad and Tobago maintenance was not a priority, things were left to fall apart, we’ve found ourselves in a pool of manure and are now scrambling to fix things.
Again, my opinion, but I know I am not the only one thinking it. I mean look at our police vehicles and the fiasco that is the Vehicle Maintenance Company of Trinidad & Tobago (VMCOTT).
Moving on, Daniel assured the now highly irritated, yet not surprised public, works were ongoing and despite the larger vessels being out of service the coast guard was still in the position to protect our borders. Yeah buddy, whatever helps you sleep at night.
He said as repairs and refittings are completed the larger vessels will be bought back into service on a phased basis. Unfortunately, guns, drugs and trafficked humans don’t follow such a strict regime of phases.
So when can we expect a fully up and running fleet?
Well along came Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds with that answer. Fourteen months! One! Four! Months! I want to think Hinds was honestly embarrassed to admit this, but not even that deep down I know this admission came with no shame.
‘The state of our Coast Guard, our number one tool in crime reduction and prevention, is yet another example that no one is serious about ending crime‘
It is well known that Trinidad for the longest time has been a transshipment point for illegal guns and drugs. Over the past two years we have seen an uptick in the use of high-powered weapons being used by gangs and other criminals. With the continued political crisis in
Due to the situation in Venezuela, we are recording more cases of human trafficking, illegal immigration and the smuggling of contraband into our country. All of this is coming through our maritime borders. No one is hopping on a jet and arriving in Piarco with a suitcase full of uncut cocaine and 25 AR-15s. Nope they are coming in during the dead of night or, hell at this point, middle of the day via boats, big and small.
Therefore, it is safe to say that anyone with at least one functioning brain cell would prioritise border protection and our coast guard, as key tools in the elimination of gang and other narcotic related crime, which includes money laundering etc.
I… I don’t really know where to go with this. I shouldn’t be disappointed, as you think I would have learned by now that there is no such thing as reason or sense in T&T, but I am.
So, while those boats are being dry docked, or awaiting repair, we, the citizenry, will continue to play what is become our nation’s favourite guessing game, “gun shots or fireworks?”
The state of our Coast Guard, our number one tool in crime reduction and prevention, is yet another example that no one is serious about ending crime. We love to demean the coast guard, but let’s face it, they are simply working with the tools they are given. As we have learned the tools, they currently have are insufficient to handle the job expected of them.
So, our borders remain open, the drugs come in, the guns come in, and all we get from those in charge are excuses and promises.
No one is serious.