A question of security

The security of the Trinidad and Tobago diplomatic pouch facility continues to be at risk despite the implementing earlier this year of strengthened safety measures by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the discovery of cocaine in diplomatic bags scheduled for New York, London and Toronto. Another security lapse, this time resulting in a diplomatic pouch being found on the tarmac of the Miami International Airport, triggered an investigation on Friday by the Ministry of National Security. Firm disciplinary action should be taken against whoever is found to be culpable in last week’s incident, including their being brought before the Court and if found guilty of an offence punished in a manner designed to act as an effective deterrent.

A disturbing factor is that so soon after cocaine was discovered in a diplomatic bag, investigations conducted and defensive action taken, there has been another breach of as well as clear lapse in security. Is it that a gang operating within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reason to believe that it is so secure that it can cock a snook at recent security measures introduced by the Ministry, and with impunity? Who are these people and are their tentacles so widespread in the Foreign Affairs Ministry that they believe that there is not much chance of their being discovered? Is there the inference that there is a lot of money involved and that the perpetrators believe themselves well paid for the risks taken? A few years ago, it was a case of a diplomatic pouch with 200 blank passports being stolen. Earlier this year it was cocaine.

Any violation of the diplomatic pouch facility gives a country  bad Press and image internationally, and in the process creates an impression which may be entirely false, with corrupt individuals holding the country’s name up for ransom. A corrupt Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the pay of another country, for example, can breach the diplomatic pouch for the purpose of exposing Trinidad and Tobago’s position on highly sensitive issues to representatives of a major power interested in knowing our moves as they are decided upon and before they are made. The telephone or even the Internet may not be regarded as suitable, nor for that matter dropping in at the embassy of the country concerned. In addition, the individual passing on the material may be a low level functionary. 

The illicit use of the diplomatic pouch affords him/her the chance to send the information, which he may have obtained illegally to an equally dishonest Foreign Affairs Ministry accomplice in another country. The financial rewards may be regarded as appropriate by the persons involved, whether it is for the transmission of illegal drugs or sensitive material, but whether he/she is discovered or not there is damage to the country. One of the disturbing aspects is that so soon after the discovery of cocaine in diplomatic pouches that another Trinidad and Tobago diplomatic pouch should have been found on the Miami International Airport tarmac. There are questions that need to be answered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including why its strengthened security measures appear to have lapsed?