US Ambassador: US-TT drug war continues

THE United States will supply the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard with two fast patrol boats as part of its unwavering commitment to this country’s war against international drug traffickers. This was disclosed yesterday by US Ambassador to TT, Dr Roy Austin, during a news conference at the US Information Research Center.

Austin told reporters that despite the withdrawal of US military funding to TT, the US remains firmly in support of this country’s ongoing war against the drug cartels. “When we cut back these funds, there are a lot of funds which TT still receives. We have INL funds that will this year, purchase two ships for your Coast Guard. That has not been cut back. We will still purchase those ships. Next year, as far as we know, you will still get new INL funds to do things.” Austin said the  two 40-foot vessels will cost US$525,000.

The Ambassador explained that the bulk of the US military funding to TT is classified as International Military Education and Training (IMET) which allows members of the local security forces to undergo training at military institutions in the US. Austin also pointed out: “There are a number of areas in which we fund things in TT. We don’t only do things in the area of the military, and our cutbacks all have to do with our military spending.”

Austin referred to the Inter-American Fund Agency which is providing US$107,000 to Buccoo Reef Trust and US$280,000 for the Caribbean Network on Integrated Rural Development and, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance which provides US$130,000 to NEMA. “There are so many areas that we provide money that will not be cut,” he assured. The Ambassador praised National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee and Works Minister Franklyn Khan for their assistance in expediting security matters which concerned the Embassy.

On the heightened security measures at the US Embassy, Austin said the measures were taken to save lives and drew reference to the bombing of the US Embassy in Kenya. He added that such measures were being taken at US foreign missions worldwide in the wake of the September 11 terrorist strikes against the US and, the cost of heightened security at the Port-of-Spain Embassy was US$6 million. Austin said under Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, it was Government’s duty to ensure the security of all foreign missions on its soil.