OUT OF ORDER: The "coastal surveillance" radar station on the San Fernando Hill overlooking the Gulf of Paria, which is supposed to track gunrunners and drug smugglers, has been out of service. -Photo: dave persad
The boast by Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his security chief Martin Joseph that Trinidad and Tobago was secured by a 360-degree coastal surveillance radar was off by several degrees for at least three months.
That is how long the "coastal surveillance" radar station on the San Fernando Hill-one of ten dotting the nation's coastline-was out of service.
Manning and Joseph have often spoken about the 360-degree radar coverage being crucial in stopping the flood of illegal guns and drugs fuelling many of the violent crimes in the country.
The radar had helped Coast Guard and Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau officers make several drug busts in the Gulf since it began operating in 2006.
Technicians spent the day yesterday working on the radar, which is capable of detecting and tracking boats as small as fishing pirogues, as well as being able to follow the target, provide real-time updates on its location, direction and speed.
The equipment was being tested yesterday evening after being removed and dismantled under the security of Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) officers. Workmen at the scene declined to speak with the Express.
And no one wanted to say how much of the Gulf of Paria-where intelligence officials believe much of the narcotics, guns, South American sex workers and contraband are smuggled into Trinidad-had been left without surveillance while the system was being fixed.
Southern Division police said they were aware the installation went down last October, since it had stopped rotating.
Mon Repos officers patrol the installation.
The radar installations were the State's best-kept secret until August 2006, when it was revealed in the Red House that Government had used the Vehicle and Maintenance Company of Trinidad and Tobago to buy the devices from Israel.
The Advanced Coastal Surveillance Radar (ACSR), built by Israel's Aircraft Industries Limited, cost more than $130 million.
The company has advertised the system as having the ability to prevent illegal immigration and drug smuggling, illegal fishing and terrorist activity.
It has the capability to detect submarine periscopes and airborne targets on a 24-hour, all-weather basis, from a command centre on a colour screen showing an outline of the country's coastline.
Payments for the equipment were made between 2002 and 2006.
In 2001, Prime Minister Manning visited Israel and met then prime minister Ariel Sharon to discuss security matters.
Well, well, well, they could have mentioned this before the General Elections last year. Why keep such pertinent information hidden from the public? I'm sure the drug smugglers were informed of this broken radar though. They probably make mass before the elections. I don't really have to say much more as this article speaks for itself about how low and underhanded the PNM can get. I'll leave you all with a couple quotes from Internet readers of the Trinidad Express.Blind radar
what a shame-- de police & the criminals are responsible fo rthe break down-- why fix it when they want the guns/narcotics trade to flourish!!! unless we root out these criminals,we'd get no where fighting this menace!!
Radar not working?
Why didn't Mr Manning announce that the radar system was down before election? One wonders how many more have broken down? What about the blimps? Did Mr. Manning purchase inferior quality from his friends in Israel? Why didn't the police report the broken radar? Could it have been in their favour to allow their criminal friends to smuggle guns and drugs? More reasons for asking the minister of National Security to resign. Trini. from malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment