Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the Marakaz-Al-ASJA Jamaat in Chaguanas
Summary
- Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Trinidad and Tobago did not pay for the US-operated radar, stating, “Not us. They are paying that.”
- She said the radar “did serve us well,” but was removed due to shifting US priorities.
- Government is moving ahead with new border security measures, including APIS legislation and online immigration forms.
- The Prime Minister defended the State of Emergency, citing a 42% drop in murders but stressing more work is needed.
- The Opposition PNM has raised concerns about a lack of transparency surrounding the radar’s installation and removal.
By Prior Beharry
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says that Trinidad and Tobago did not bear any cost for the use of a United States-operated radar system in Tobago.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday following Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations at the Marakaz-Al-ASJA Jamaat in Chaguanas, Persad-Bissessar said the radar system was fully funded by the US.
“They are paying US$3 million a day for that radar? Not us. They are paying that,” she had told the media last month.
She explained that the high level of US investment—covering operational costs such as salaries, accommodation, and maintenance—meant that American military personnel remained on-site to secure the equipment and prevent sabotage.
The Prime Minister added that the radar system “did serve us well,” despite its recent removal, noting that the decision was tied to changing US priorities.
“We were lucky to have it the time we had it. They need it for their own use, as you know. They’re on another front, and they probably need it for that purpose. But it did serve us well, and we thank them very much for it,” she said.
However, the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) has raised concerns about what it described as a lack of transparency surrounding both the installation and removal of the radar at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago.
Persad-Bissessar said legislation for the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) is expected soon.
“By next week, Friday or thereafter, we’ll bring a piece of law, the APIS legislation. When we link these together, even before you land, we can have a clear idea whether there’s a good guy or a bad guy, to put it simply, landing here,” she said.
She added that the initiative is part of a wider push to modernise border security, alongside new online entry requirements at the nation’s airports.
“We continue to engage the US authorities in many fields, a very important one is what is happening at our airports now with the online entry forms,” she said.
On crime, the Prime Minister defended the Government’s continued State of Emergency (SoE), arguing that while progress has been made, further reductions are needed.
“We have seen crime at the lowest it has been in many, many years. The murders have been down by 42 per cent. People are saying, why another SoE? Because only 42 per cent down, we have to work to bring it down further,” she said.
