00:00We're to be witness themselves reported that they have been using the gym and the beach and the restaurants alongside
00:08the United States officials. Certainly there is no national security directive or directive from the THE as far as I'm
00:17concerned for there to be restriction of public use of the hotel.
00:22On Wednesday morning, TV6 News observed some of the military personnel as they concluded their morning exercises returning to the
00:31Grafton Beach Resort while another was observed jogging. Mr. Agustin said the military personnel are to exit the resort in
00:40the coming days.
00:41Certainly, locals have not been restricted because locals have been working and playing alongside the U.S. officials all along.
00:51And certainly, I don't see the need for any restriction when the expected departure is in a couple of days
01:02from now.
01:03One visitor we spoke to from England told the TV6 News he has observed the officers.
01:17A local visitor to Grafton Beach also confirmed seeing the U.S. officers.
01:23About seven of them I saw this morning running there.
01:27How do you feel about the military presence?
01:29Well, the truth is they're doing their work.
01:31Visiting from Canada, Barbara Ducey said she was unaware of the military presence or the state of emergency SOE.
01:41She described Tobago as safe.
01:43It's all safe. I love it here.
01:46Beautiful, beautiful island.
01:49And you know about the SOE that we are under?
01:51The what?
01:52SOE, state of emergency?
01:54No.
01:55TV6 News gained access to the compound at the Grafton Beach Resort where two security officers were sitting in the
02:02lobby area.
02:03We also visited the restaurant area.
02:06U.S. troops are being stationed in Tobago as a result of the installation of the U.S. military radar
02:11system at the A&R Robinson International Airport.
02:14And according to Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissessa back in February, it is costing U.S. $3 million daily to
02:22run the military radar system in Tobago.
02:25The Prime Minister could not confirm the total number of U.S. troops at the resort, but stated their exit
02:31from Tobago would be in phases towards the end of March 2026.
02:36The same according to the Grafton Beach Resort official we spoke to today.
02:41The Prime Minister described intelligence sharing between the U.S. forces and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as instrumental
02:49in recent operations, including a drug bust.
02:53Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
Comments