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.
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