Can we handle a Bajan war?

The situation in Haiti proves true the “nine day memory” of the Trinidadian as the national attention has been shifted from the much closer impasse between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. The Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Shri Satnarayan Maharaj, declared the SDMS stands firm with our nation in this impasse. Like all other nations and groups in Trinidad, Hindus like other interested parties have a position on this important national issue. There were some that could not see this as anything more than a fishing dispute out of control. Others have further speculated that the real issue behind the crisis is the oil and gas reserves but these reserves may or may not exist in those areas but speculation is not useful. The recent threat by the Bajan Attorney General and the reaction from Trinidad has made some think there is the potential to have the dispute escalate into an armed clash. If the armed forces get involved in anything more than a Fishery protection role, many would be stunned. The Coast Guards of all countries do, however, have the job of protecting fishery stocks and zones.

As this column is written our nation appears to be silently mobilising for war and the legions of Emperor (Patrick) Augustus mass to fight off the invasion of the insidious barbarian hordes from Barbados. Rest assured that our gallant fleet — all two working boats — stands ready to repel any attack. What is really worrying is our complete lack of air defenses. You never know — the Flying Fish might side with the Bajans and launch an attack on our strategic installations. Else, they might declare independence and seek a UN peacekeeping force to ward off the Bajans and Trinidadians and their nefarious fishing boats. It behoves any patriotic Trinidadian to stand ready and sharpen your cutlass. We need to be careful not to blow this thing with Barbados out of proportion. Strong legal defense of our position in the UN needs to be done. They’ve handled many disputes like this before. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago have already indicated that this legalistic route is the manner in which the issue is being directed at least by Trinidad and Tobago. A confrontation between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados will be interesting. Militarily, it would be a clash between two anorexic midgets. The BDF has around 610 men under arms compared to around 3000 for the TTDF. They are similarly armed and comparably trained and both lack combat experience. No armoured vehicles or artillery exist, though the TTDF did operate seven Shorland armoured cars which are now non-operationals (typical mentality). Heaviest weapons are 81mm mortars and some B-300 rocket launchers.

The disparity is similar in the manpower and fleet strengths of the Coast Guards. The Bajans have a reputation for being quite efficient and maintain a high serviceability rate for their ships — the largest of which is the Trident. There are also two 40-foot cutters and a number of smaller craft. Armament consists of nothing heavier than 20mm guns and some 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine guns. That’s the level of armament also carried by the TTCG. It is however, much larger with one 1000 tonne Island-class Fishery Protection Vessel — the TTS Nelson CG 20 — being the flagship of the fleet (unless its been sold!). The most active TTCG units are four Point class cutters obtained from the US but without their normal armament of two 12.7mm Browning M2HB machine guns. There are around ten smaller vessels in the TTCG normally armed only with 7.62mm FN MAG machine guns. However, serviceability in the TTCG is appalling. The two most potent units of the Coast Guard — the CG 5 Barracuda and CG 6 Cascadura — are non operational and have been so for the better part of a decade. The last the public saw them rusting in Chaguaramas in 2003 virtually derelict. Similar problems have also occurred with the rest of the fleet.

Both Coast Guards and Defence Forces are supported by small air wings — six aircraft in Trinidad and four or so in Barbados. No aircraft are armed and it is possible that none are fitted with radar, but plans exist for at least one C-26 in Trinidad to be so fitted. Trinidad can also call on seven helicopters from the National Helicopters Limited of which one MBB Bo-105CBS is assigned for police work. None are fitted for weapons but can, at a pinch, be fitted for pintle-mounted machine guns out of the cabins. That’s the military balance between the two nations. There is that anything more than a ridiculous fishing dispute is at stake combined with the egos of the some in Trinidad and Bajans governments respectively. However, the fact that there may be a claim to continental shelf waters — at least to permit Trinidad EEZ exploitation to a limited extent by the Bajans could have future implications for the oil and gas sectors. The key is proper demarcation of the boundary and aggressive patrolling to deter unauthorised intrusions.