Skip to playerSkip to main content
CCNTV6
  • 10 months ago
The two Austal Cape Class vessels of the T&T Coast Guard are back in service.


The announcement comes from Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, who has provided updates on the other large vessels in the Damen fleet.


Alicia Boucher has the details.
Transcript
00:00On September 7th, 2024, Chief of Defense Staff Air Vice Marshal Daryl Daniel revealed that
00:06the entire fleet of large vessels belonging to the TNT Coast Guard, comprising two hostile
00:12vessels and six Daman vessels, was not operational.
00:16Well, in response to a question in the Senate on Tuesday as to what are the alternative
00:22mechanisms to border security, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hines delivered a bit
00:28of good news.
00:29Granted that this question is very dated, I am to advise that both our hostile Cape
00:37class patrol boats, which did not exist in 2020 nor 2015, are actually returned.
00:53Both of these vessels have re-entered service and are currently rostered for patrols around
00:59Trinidad and Tobago.
01:04The Daman patrol vessels are also being sent for dry docking, recertification, repairs
01:11and maintenance and will all return to active service shortly.
01:16Two have actually returned from Suriname and one is in its docking phase right there
01:24as we speak.
01:25Hines said the Sister Isle is serviced by a smaller vessel for close inshore patrols
01:30and the same applies to operations of that nature in Trinidad.
01:34According to the minister, land and beach patrols are also supported by the police service.
01:40Opposition Senator Wade Mark followed up with a supplemental question concerning the new
01:45developments.
01:47When did these two hostile vessels return to service in Trinidad and Tobago?
01:59Minister of National Security.
02:01The exact dates are not with me and I'm on parliamentary record so I will not venture
02:05them but I can say within very recent weeks.
02:12The minister added that the hostile vessels were repaired in the Dominican Republic.
02:16As he further outlined that along with the purchase contract, there was a maintenance
02:21contract with the manufacturer of the hostile vessels.
02:25As for the cost of the repairs, he said it could be provided to the Senate in writing.
02:30Since it would require specific figures but I can say we are more than happy to have those
02:39vessels in service, patrolling and taking care of elements of our border security in
02:45Trinidad and Tobago and they are on the job as we speak.
02:49However, he called out Senator Mark on his actions during the procurement process for
02:54TNT to acquire the two Cape Class vessels.
02:58The Honorable Senator in person wrote to the Attorney General of Australia trying to obstruct
03:05in my view the operation and the purchase.
03:09Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment