By Sue-Ann Wayow
AFTER the discovery of more than $20 million worth of cocaine that washed ashore in Mayaro comes a renewed call for better protection of the country’s borders.
Member of Parliament for Mayaro Rushton Paray in a statement on Thursday said, “This significant haul points to active drug smuggling within our waters.”
He said not only narcotics seemed to be smuggled but also lethal weapons as well while state-owned resources were either being under used or not used at all.
The Government should be urged to immediately ramp up border protection resources as a result of the discovery, the MP said.
Paray said, “While the drug trade looms, pivotal resources like the Dutch Damen vessels at Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas, costing almost $1.5 billion, sit idle. The four Augusta Westland Helicopters, which could have safeguarded our airspace and backed our naval forces, are languishing unused.”
There were also community murmurs that locals had in possession some of the washed-up packages, causing even more concern for the increasing crime situation including home invasions, he said.
“Our local police officers give their all, but they are in dire need of both additional hands and technological aid,” Paray emphasised.
