Cabinet to decide on SAUTT in one week’s time

Last Thursday members of Cabinet were presented with copies of an in-depth report compiled by the Steering Committee on the operations of SAUTT.

The report was compiled by chairman of the Steering Committee Deputy Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and Security Consultant Professor Daniel Gibran, with assistance from Julie Brown who is the Deputy Director of the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA).

Newsday understands that the report has recommended a revamping of the elite unit, and another key recommendation that some of the resources at SAUTT be transferred to other units.

According to well placed Government sources, the report recommended that the investigative arm of SAUTT be transferred to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and that police and Defence Force officers who were seconded to the unit be returned to their respective posts. It also recommended that most of the foreigners hired at SAUTT be relieved of their contracts.

According to information reaching Newsday, the report also pointed out that SAUTT is duplicating the work done by other security intelligence agencies, and that officers there who are involved in that field of work be transferred to other units. According to sources, the jury is still out on the importance of the sky-ship, and a decision will be taken by Cabinet on whether to keep the blimp in the skies or if to sell it.

It is costing Government a lucrative sum to keep the blimp afloat, and the usefulness of the airship still remains a mystery, sources indicated.

The blimp continues to be grounded and has not been in operation for the past three months, and sources revealed that it is undergoing routine maintenance checks.

The Steering Committee appointed by Government to review the operations of SAUTT was hired late last year, after the then head of the unit Brigadier Peter Joseph was fired by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.