Military air power being strengthened

WHILE disclosing that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force’s Air Wing is being strengthened, National Security Minister Martin Joseph declined to say whether this new strength will take the form of helicopter gunships. Addressing a breakfast meeting at the Crowne Plaza last week, Prime Minister Patrick Manning spoke of a new helicopter unit which will boost TT’s border security and aircraft with offensive capabilities. Speaking at Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Joseph said: “We have a rotary (helicopter) unit.

I don’t think it’s the creation of a new unit. We are trying to make sure that all of our law enforcement agencies and the assets of all of these are used in such a way that we get efficiency and effectiveness from them.” Joseph refused to say whether this meant the acquisition of helicopter gunships or if the military already had aircraft with offensive capabilities. However, it did include the resources available to the Special Anti-Crime Unit as part of his Ministry’s overall review of national security resources. Strengthening of the military’s air wing started under Joseph’s predecessor, Howard Chin Lee. Manning also identified the purchase of two offshore patrol vessels and a high-tech radar system from Israel as part of Government’s overall plan to strengthen TT’s national security.