The Prime Minister tells TV6 News that the radar system being installed by U.S. military personnel in Tobago "is not for use in any action in Venezuela."
And the Prime Minister explains why she initially did not confirm its existence earlier this week.
00:00In response to a question sent by TV6 News on Friday, Prime Minister Kamla Pesad-Besessa says that the radar installed by U.S. military personnel at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago is for real-time monitoring and surveillance of the nation's air and sea territory.
00:18The Prime Minister said when the UNC and its coalition of interests entered government, they found an existing radar system that was functioning sporadically and inefficiently and did not provide cover for Trinidad and Tobago's entire territory.
00:32The Prime Minister said the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard could not even access data in real-time in addition to the system being compromised.
00:39Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa told TV6 News on Friday, quote, I requested assistance for the supply of a radar system from the U.S. Embassy on a temporary basis until we could get a permanent replacement for the existing system, end quote.
00:54There has been concern and speculation about the installation of the radar system and the presence of a large U.S. military aircraft in Tobago following the Prime Minister's meeting with the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday, while there has been a major build-up of the U.S. military in the Caribbean.
01:12President Nicolas Maduro claims it is about the U.S. wanting regime change in Venezuela.
01:17On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about what he insists is his administration's war on drug cartels.
01:24In a recent week, you've been working to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers, of which there are many.
01:30Of course, there aren't too many coming in by sea anymore, if you probably noticed that.
01:35From sending their poisons into the United States, where they kill hundreds of thousands of people a year.
01:41But we're going to take care of that situation. We're already doing a lot.
01:43We've almost stopped. It's about 85% stopped by sea. You probably noticed that people aren't wanting to be delivering by sea.
01:53And we'll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier.
02:00But that's going to start very soon. We'd warn them.
02:02On Thursday, Opposition Leader Penelope Beckels said citizens deserve timely, accurate information
02:31about foreign military activity in the country, and anything less undermines public trust and weakens our national security framework.
02:40The Prime Minister said that since it is a sensitive national security issue,
02:44which provides for the protection of the nation's territory and citizens,
02:49she did not think it was wise on Wednesday outside the Parliament
02:51to publicly broadcast to Narco and human traffickers, as well as other criminals, that a radar was being installed.
02:58The Prime Minister said that would be counterproductive to citizens' safety.
03:03Prime Minister Passat-Bassassar then said,
03:05But since Guardian Media has already exposed the sensitive national security upgrade
03:10to local and transnational criminals, there's no reason anymore to not confirm
03:16the security advantage has been lost.
03:19End quote.
03:19The Prime Minister said the U.S. personnel in Tobago are doing work constructing an access road
03:26and an area for the radar installation, and that the Marines that left were members of the MEU,
03:32the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, who were doing joint training with the TTDF,
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