00:00The U.S. military radar, once operational in Tobago, has been dismantled.
00:06This comes as U.S. troops are set to depart Tobago in the coming days.
00:12Chief Secretary Fali Augustin told TV6 News the office of the Chief Secretary was made aware the U.S. military
00:20radar would be removed.
00:22The radar system that was temporarily installed in Tobago has now been dismantled.
00:28And preparations are underway for the equipment and associated personnel to leave the island.
00:36The office of the Chief Secretary was certainly made aware prior.
00:42And so it's no surprise that the equipment and the personnel that they are preparing to leave.
00:51Mr. Augustin said the dismantling of the radar falls in line with the schedule given to him.
00:58It's quite in line with the schedule that I was given.
01:03From day one, however, it was clear that this was never a permanent fixture, but it was always temporary.
01:13And this is what makes the alarmists quite laughable, because they went about fear-mongering and trying to posit that
01:25somehow this will make us a military target.
01:29But this was always a temporary fixture.
01:34Mr. Augustin said this serves as a lesson that Trinidad and Tobago must invest in its own national security infrastructure.
01:45This episode reminds us that Trinidad and Tobago must find a way to invest in its own national security infrastructure.
01:55We cannot permanently rely on the capabilities of other countries.
02:00We have to make our own investment into our national security infrastructure in a way to strengthen our own surveillance,
02:11maritime and air defense systems.
02:14Augustin said Tobago remains a safe place.
02:17And I think that is essential if we are to properly protect our borders and our people.
02:25Tobago remains safe. Tobago remains focused on its development.
02:31According to Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissessa back in February, it was costing U.S. $3 million daily to operate
02:38the military radar system in Tobago.
02:40The Prime Minister could not confirm the total number of U.S. troops at the Grafton Beach Resort, but stated
02:47their exit from Tobago would be in phases towards the end of March.
02:51That's the same timeline given by the Grafton Beach Resort official we spoke to.
02:56The Prime Minister described intelligence sharing between the U.S. forces and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as instrumental
03:03in recent anti-crime operations, including a drug bust.
03:07Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
03:10The Prime Minister of Things.
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