Special Branch in dark over ‘Spy in the Sky’

The only persons who knew of the testing of the Spy Blimp, were Minister of National Security, Martin Joseph, and selected officers of Government’s Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT).

Disgruntled Special Branch officers told Newsday yesterday that SAUTT had taken over the entire intelligence operations throughout Trinidad and Tobago, and they are being left in the dark about top surveillance arrangements.

"SAUTT seems to be operating on their own. They report directly to Minister of National Security Martin Joseph," said a Special Branch cop yesterday.

The officers feel that the unit can be termed a political tool of the Government, since the unit seems to be operating without any input from Special Branch or the police.

Police officers who work under Brigadier Peter Joseph, do not report to Police Commissioner Trevor Paul.

All officers of SAUTT receive an extra $5,000 per month apart from their regular salaries.

Yesterday, Branch officers said that they have been begging for state of the art equipment to assist them in their work, but those pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

They added that the role of the Special Branch is now being threatened by SAUTT.

On Saturday, at a special site now being manned by SAUTT at Cumuto, the blimp carrying SAUTT officers was sent out for testing.

Members of the public thought it was a UFO, but Minister of National Security, Martin Joseph, dispelled those rumours and said that it was part of the security equipment purchased by Government which was being tested.

Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, when contacted by Newsday said that he was unaware that any blimp was sent out for testing. Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and other intelligence units of the Police Service, also accused the Government of favouring the elite Anti-Crime Unit in terms of the purchase of sophisticated equipment, manpower, and resources.

They also accused the Minister of National Security, Martin Joseph, of placing more emphasis on SAUTT.

Disgruntled officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad said that they have been begging for sophisticated equipment to assist in dealing with organised crime, but their pleas so far, have failed.

They added that the anti-crime unit is being outfitted with everything they have asked for from the Ministry of National Security.

Officers welcome any fight against crime, but they feel that one unit must not be given everything it desires, while others are left out.

The blimp which is under the direct control of director of the Anti-Crime Unit, Brigadier Peter Joseph, is expected to be sent out again later this week for routine tests.

The blimp which can carry 12 persons will be heavily utilised by officers of SAUTT.

The white blimp is outfitted with infrared gyroscopic cameras which can pick out the number plates of cars 500 metres below, and record conversations on mobile phones.

The floating Sky Ship can patrol the skies for about 16 hours a day.

Secretary of the Police Second Division, Cpl Noel Chase, said that when SAUTT was formed, his association raised concerns about the formation of the unit, and asked if it was a separate unit operating oustide of the Police Service.

"We raised it with the Commissioner and the Minister of National Security, with respect of the operation of SAUTT and sought legal opinion on the unit.

"We will have to do further checks to see what is really happening," said Cpl Chase. He said that it would now appear that a separate service now exists.