$25.6M blimp offers audio, video and radar surveillance

National Security Minister Martin Joseph said the blimp would also be critical in solving kidnapping cases because it would allow for high-tech tracking of vehicles and persons.

Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Joseph stressed that the country could no longer afford to have "chimmey or stove-pipe operations" in the fight against crime.

Joseph said Cabinet mandated him to also bring a proposal "in the shortest time possible" for the stationing of surveillance cameras in downtown Port-of-Spain. He said he would like to see these cameras installed by the end of the year.

Joseph said the surveillance system provided by the airship would offer TT a fully integrated range of audio, video and radar surveillance from a single platform.

He noted that the system would give law-enforcement officers several crucial advantages. They would be able to:

a) identify the location of concealed items such as drugs, firearms and ammunition

b) track down vehicles or persons, critical in kidnapping cases.

c) video surveillance and coordination of responses to terrorist events and video surveillance of valuable coastal areas and sensitive targets.

The system consists of one manned airship outfitted with camera, low light TV camera, light weight radar and hype-spectral imaging system, he said. It has been "effectively used" by allied forces in the Iraq war and by several cities in the US in the war against crime, Joseph said. He couldn’t say if the evidence collected from the airship could be used in court, but added that he was sure this dimension was being worked out.

Despite statements from Police Commissioner Paul that he was not informed about the testing of the blimp, Joseph claimed that the head of each section knew about the airship. He said there was no way one could have said in advance that there would be the testing of the blimp.

On concerns raised about the invasion of privacy, Joseph said the law-abiding citizen did not have to worry about this kind of equipment. "It is designed to deal with that small group which continues to terrorise us, who continue to not allow us to enjoy a (proper) quality of life," he said.

He said the current collaboration and cooperation among the various units would continue to be strengthened. He said 80 percent of homicides were gun-related. He said both guns and drugs were coming into the country, and all the guns were staying here, while some of the drugs were remaining here and a portion being shipped out.

Joseph said it was unfortunate that his decision to take leave shortly after the bombing incident provoked so much debate. He said he had asked the Prime Minister for three days leave — Tuesday (which was the day after the bombing), Wednesday and Thursday. Saying that he wanted the leave to be "comprehensive," he stated that it was necessary for him to be at home. (His wife had a baby). But even on the Tuesday morning (while officially on leave) he visited all those who were injured and hospitalised .

Joseph said he missed two events — the Senate sitting and the Cabinet. He explained that one could only be excused from the Senate because of illness or absence from the country. He said the Tuesday sitting had nothing to do with Monday’s bombing, while he missed Cabinet which proceeded with its normal business. "And for that I was accused of dereliction of duty. That I thought was most unfortunate," he said.

On reports that there were reservations about the continuing use of the Defence Force in the fight against crime, Joseph said the Defence Force was being called on to play a greater role in law enforcement.

He said internationally, the traditional approach to defence had to change because the major threat to the State was coming from within (from the breakdown of law and order) and not from an external (military) attack. In this new environment the role of the Defence Force, which was traditionally supposed to protect the shores, had to be reviewed, the minister stated.