Manning went shopping for modern security systems

Manning reported yesterday that he visited a number of security companies in Israel to look at weapons and other equipment. He also visited an Israeli military air installation and a naval installation, and examined military helicopters and boats.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet news conference, Manning said his visit, which has been criticised by the Opposition UNC, was geared towards enhancing the levels of security in the country in the context of the ongoing crime threat.

Israel, which is under constant threat, has one of the best military preparedness capabilities in the world.

Manning recalled that Israel has supplied a great deal of security equipment to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. He cited the assault rifle used by the armed forces and the radar system. Noting that he did not wish to go into too much detail, Manning said, "We looked at helicopters, boats and whatever else the Israeli authorities had available to them which we thought could have been available, was relevant, to Trinidad and Tobago."

In response to Opposition criticism about the lack of information, Manning said one could not disclose too much on the sensitive issue of security.

On Opposition statements that his trip came at an inopportune time because the Israeli government had resigned, Manning said he met with all the relevant persons — the prime minister and the deputy political leader and the minister of foreign affairs. "None of the scheduled meetings were cancelled as a consequence of those developments, and those developments were not known before we left Trinidad and Tobago."

On the crime talks with the Opposition, Manning said he was giving the Opposition one week to study the anti-crime legislation.

With reference to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, Manning said he was extremely pleased that the conference agreed to have this country host the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM). He said Government was targetting the waterfront project to host CHOGM. The project, which consists of two 26-storey towers, (one of the towers to be used as a headquarters for the FTAA if and when it comes), an 1,800 seat convention centre and a 24-storey hotel, will be complete by 2008, he said.

Manning said this country also indicated its desire to host the next meeting of FTAA leaders. This meeting could be as early as late 2008. He said two countries had signified an interest — Trinidad and Tobago and Colombia. The Prime Minister said he believed this would be settled by discreet discussions behind the scene. However, he noted that this country remained optimistic (that it would be chosen). He said this country was seeking to raise its international profile as it sought to portray itself as a good destination for investment dollars and ultimately increase the standard of living for its citizens.

He said the time was ripe for doing so since this country was playing an increasingly important role in the region and the world. He said Trinidad and Tobago supplied 54 percent of all ammonia imports to the US, 69 percent of methanol imports and 75 percent of LNG imports into that country. He said with two aluminium smelters under construction, this country would be producing a metal used in the sensitive aircraft and aerospace industry which will have implications for the security of the United States.