PM silent on new intelligence unit

Speaking with journalists after a pre-Budget planning session held by the Cabinet and senior Government officials at the Crowne Plaza, Manning (who is also National Security Council chairman) said, "I have not read the report. After I look at it somebody will respond to it. I have not seen it."

Approached by journalists about the report, National Security Minister Martin Joseph declined comment, but indicated that the newspaper (not Newsday) which carried the report "always gets it wrong."

The Special Anti-crime Unit was formed in early 2004 to coordinate the various arms of the national security apparatus to pool their intelligence resources more effectively to deal with crime in Trinidad and Tobago.

Reports have emerged within recent months about friction between the Special Anti-crime Unit and various units within the Police Service. The National Security Ministry has denied those reports.

Asked if the National Security Ministry was in line for a significant financial allocation in the 2005/2006 Budget, Manning said fighting crime was "not only dollars and sense" but there are many other matters involved. He hinted though that the ministry would receive the financial resources it needed in the Budget.

Indications are that priority areas of expenditure in the upcoming Budget (tentatively slated for September 5 in Parliament) would be education, health, national security, works and transport and science, technology and tertiary education.

Last weekend, the Prime Minister said a coastal radar system acquired from Israel to bolster TT’s border security would be fully operational by the end of September.

On Monday, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) opened a five-day anti-kidnapping seminar at the Police Training College in St James for 30 members of the Police Service.

Government is currently in the process of acquiring three offshore patrol vessels and six fast inshore patrol boats for the Coast Guard, helicopter gunships and other forms of security technologies to boost the ability of law enforcement agencies to deal with crime in TT.