When Cadets saved the day

It would take over two decades for their great contribution to the nation to be officially recognised.

On July 27, 1990, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, led by Yasin Abu Bakr, attempted to overthrow the then government led by Prime Minister ANR Robinson. Over the course of six days, the Prime Minister along with a number of other government ministers and parliamentarians, as well as electronic media journalists, were held hostage inside the Red House, the seat of Parliament in Port-of-Spain and at Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) by the Muslimeen insurgents. During this time, the country was placed under a strict state-of-emergency and citizens’ rights were curtailed for security purposes. In the country’s capital as well as along the East-West corridor, the effects of the coup attempt were felt the most because of the arson and looting that took place.

During the course of the six days that the Muslim organization was in control of the country, the Protective Services had their hands full with trying to get the Jamaat al Muslimeen under control and regain power. Of course, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, Coast Guard and Air Guard had major roles to play in rescuing the hostages at the Red House and at TTT, as well as having the rebel group surrender. However, following the coup attempt, the various arms of the Protective services were graciously rewarded for their contribution with the exception of the Cadet Force. It would take another 22 years, 2012 to be exact for the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force to be recognised finally for the important role they played.

Major Rodney David Brown, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion of the Cadet Force, who spoke with Newsday at length about the topic, recalled that at the time of the 1990 attempted coup, the Cadet Force was coincidentally at its Annual Camp at Tucker Valley in Chaguaramas. They immediately sprang into action. Junior cadets assisted at the nation’s ports, receiving and sorting food stocks. This work of the juniors was throughout the state of emergency, although he said most of the juniors were deployed after camp.

Some cadets as well, Major Brown recalls, reported to Police Stations throughout the country, especially in San Fernando.

Major Brown explained that in a state-of-emergency, the Cadet Force offers its help and is then brought forward by a call from the Minister of National Security. Cadets, as part of their training which they are tested on in Star Exams up to the level of Master Cadet, must undertake a subject called Map and Compass. Brown said their skill of map reading was effectively used during the attempted coup in 1990 where the adult cadets implemented the required map reading work to plot the points for the San Fernando operations of the Police Service. “This is a story that never came out,” said Major Brown, as the only word said on that topic he contends was that the police organized their map work and got their operations done and “did what they had to do”. The crucial and accurate map reading of the cadets was never recognized or rewarded, until 2012. The adult cadets also conducted air and land patrols, as well as secured the port in Tobago.

In a ceremony that took place at the National Academy for the Performance Arts (NAPA) in 2012, the cadets were finally recognized for their work in assisting to remove the country from under siege. All the cadets received certificates, and the adult cadets received medals as well.

The Commission of Inquiry into the 1990 attempted coup also identified members of the Cadet Force who assisted at the heliport in Chaguaramas. Some of those named were Major Brown, Lieutenant Guy, Officer Cadet Armour and Cadet O’Neal. At the Commission of Enquiry into the 1990 failed coup, Chairman of the Commission of Enquiry, Sir David Simmons, QC, stated that these cadets were the ones who, “stepped forward, not being paid, not being part of the regular Defence Force themselves, but put themselves in the line of national duty and I think that it is important for that to be documented.” Up to today, despite their late recognition, many are still completely unaware of the crucial role that the cadets played in restoration of democracy in Trinidad and Tobago.