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Offline FF

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #210 on: February 26, 2014, 08:22:56 PM »
 :D alright fellas allyuh put me in place lol
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Offline Tiresais

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #211 on: February 27, 2014, 02:22:09 AM »
Does this realy make sense? They only thing I could agree with, is  what Tiresais refer to as a geopolitical decision. China buys a lot from us. But the US buys a lot from us also.

If the government is smart they know that Chinese consumption is absolutely going to increase in the next decade, whereas America's is much less certain. America is Trini's biggest buyer right now, but America doesn't play as nice as China when it comes to foreign relations either, so there might be other concerns.

Offline fishs

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #212 on: February 27, 2014, 06:28:07 AM »

 They will purchase these vessels then they will get here and the seamen will say they cyar operate them because they doh know chinese
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Offline Deeks

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #213 on: February 27, 2014, 08:38:35 AM »

 They will purchase these vessels then they will get here and the seamen will say they cyar operate them because they doh know chinese

I know that is a joke. The Chinese know English. They will have their English speaking people to do training. And all the instructions will definitely be in English. Of course there will be Chinese on some of the instructions. It would help to learn Chinese by the way.

Offline weary1969

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #214 on: February 27, 2014, 09:28:24 AM »
Only last week d jokey captin say we eh need no OPV because we need 2 beef up our intelligence. Vap Kamla swing her bat like Gayle and is LPV in oui pweefen.
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Offline MEP

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #215 on: February 27, 2014, 10:14:01 AM »
Does this realy make sense? They only thing I could agree with, is  what Tiresais refer to as a geopolitical decision. China buys a lot from us. But the US buys a lot from us also.

If the government is smart they know that Chinese consumption is absolutely going to increase in the next decade, whereas America's is much less certain. America is Trini's biggest buyer right now, but America doesn't play as nice as China when it comes to foreign relations either, so there might be other concerns.

It doesn't have anything to do with being smart..who are the people that are part of her delegation...this China trip is basically to open the Chinese market for her friends and purchasing patrol boats is an offer that doing business with her friends is the same as doing business with the gov't of TnT....they eh foolin nobody

Offline Jah Gol

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #216 on: February 27, 2014, 11:34:56 AM »
The truth is in the 21st century with free movement of capital ,businesses don't need governments to trade. I don't have a problem with the PM going to open the mission and get a nice photo op with the Chinese President but if the insinuation is this visit in itself is platform for increasing trade is pure fantasy. Our businesses dont' need our government to go to China for us to gain access to their market and vice versa.

Tiresais might me on to something.  Though my suspicion is it has more to do with 'gifts' we received to build projects e.g. the children's hospital and Chinese loan we got for the smelter than a trade imbalance.

Offline congo

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #217 on: February 27, 2014, 12:06:45 PM »
The truth is in the 21st century with free movement of capital ,businesses don't need governments to trade. I don't have a problem with the PM going to open the mission and get a nice photo op with the Chinese President but if the insinuation is this visit in itself is platform for increasing trade is pure fantasy. Our businesses dont' need our government to go to China for us to gain access to their market and vice versa.

Tiresais might me on to something.  Though my suspicion is it has more to do with 'gifts' we received to build projects e.g. the children's hospital and Chinese loan we got for the smelter than a trade imbalance.

Actually our businesses DO need the government to hold their hands and carry them China to gain new trading opportunities. A place like China needs very little from us. Seeing that our next major sector outside of oil and gas is manufacturing underscores the point that we have very little to offer or teach China. Our businesses only survive in Trinidad based on government contracts etc. These businesses are not efficient nor are they innovative. China wouldn't open a door for any of these businesses. If American businesses can't even get a foothold into the Chinese market I highly doubt that ours will. This trip is a smokescreen. A trip designed to look like progress is being made. We have very little to offer China.

Offline Tiresais

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #218 on: February 27, 2014, 12:33:58 PM »
The truth is in the 21st century with free movement of capital ,businesses don't need governments to trade. I don't have a problem with the PM going to open the mission and get a nice photo op with the Chinese President but if the insinuation is this visit in itself is platform for increasing trade is pure fantasy. Our businesses dont' need our government to go to China for us to gain access to their market and vice versa.

Tiresais might me on to something.  Though my suspicion is it has more to do with 'gifts' we received to build projects e.g. the children's hospital and Chinese loan we got for the smelter than a trade imbalance.

This is a misconception - governments are essential in international trade, especially if they're going to convince other nations to drop tariffs and trade restrictions. Look at the measures - China's building a major trading port for Southern Trinidad, clearly that'll enable trade previously not cost-efficient or possible in terms of capacity.

Offline Jah Gol

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #219 on: February 27, 2014, 05:18:19 PM »
The truth is in the 21st century with free movement of capital ,businesses don't need governments to trade. I don't have a problem with the PM going to open the mission and get a nice photo op with the Chinese President but if the insinuation is this visit in itself is platform for increasing trade is pure fantasy. Our businesses dont' need our government to go to China for us to gain access to their market and vice versa.

Tiresais might me on to something.  Though my suspicion is it has more to do with 'gifts' we received to build projects e.g. the children's hospital and Chinese loan we got for the smelter than a trade imbalance.

Actually our businesses DO need the government to hold their hands and carry them China to gain new trading opportunities. A place like China needs very little from us. Seeing that our next major sector outside of oil and gas is manufacturing underscores the point that we have very little to offer or teach China. Our businesses only survive in Trinidad based on government contracts etc. These businesses are not efficient nor are they innovative. China wouldn't open a door for any of these businesses. If American businesses can't even get a foothold into the Chinese market I highly doubt that ours will. This trip is a smokescreen. A trip designed to look like progress is being made. We have very little to offer China.

You used the right word - innovative. I don't disagree with much of what your saying except for the fact the government's cannot make businesses more innovative. My point is if there was a possible mutual gain, which is the point of trade in the first place no government intervention is required. Business doesn't need government to gain access to new markets. In fact the best thing governments can to increase trade is to make doing business in the home country easier e.g. decrease taxes, improve port efficiency.

Offline Jah Gol

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #220 on: February 27, 2014, 05:41:38 PM »
The truth is in the 21st century with free movement of capital ,businesses don't need governments to trade. I don't have a problem with the PM going to open the mission and get a nice photo op with the Chinese President but if the insinuation is this visit in itself is platform for increasing trade is pure fantasy. Our businesses dont' need our government to go to China for us to gain access to their market and vice versa.

Tiresais might me on to something.  Though my suspicion is it has more to do with 'gifts' we received to build projects e.g. the children's hospital and Chinese loan we got for the smelter than a trade imbalance.

This is a misconception - governments are essential in international trade, especially if they're going to convince other nations to drop tariffs and trade restrictions. Look at the measures - China's building a major trading port for Southern Trinidad, clearly that'll enable trade previously not cost-efficient or possible in terms of capacity.

What tariffs and restrictions might the Chinese impose on Trinidad and Tobago who has no possible competitive advantage over them. Additionally this might be true if we were talking about the China of the 1960s. Enterprising businessmen are now welcomed to exploit opportunities in  free trade zones that are emerging in China. Admittedly they are not as liberal as Hong Kong for instance but they don't need help from any help.

Offline Bourbon

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #221 on: February 27, 2014, 06:03:42 PM »
Kamla: Govt doesn't owe one cent for OPVs



"There are several things that we had to consider. Do we need three OPVs? The country is not at war out in the seas; the country is at war on the ground, in our streets and in the towns within Trinidad and Tobago. The cost to maintain the vessels would have cost taxpayers in excess of $500 million annually. Our country cannot sustain that at this time," she said.

"We feel that we could better spend that money right here on the ground to fight crime, to pay police officers more money, pay the Defence Force more money, to pay the prisons officers more. To get equipment and, of course, food and hospitals beds," the PM said.

"There is the view that these huge OPVs will not assist in the fight against crime because first, they are slow and are visible from way off. You could see them from far off, so these narco (narcotic) traffickers who may be coming and illegal gun-runners (who) may be coming, what may be more useful is the smaller, faster cutters."



http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla__Govt_doesn_t_owe_one_cent_for_OPVs-104056313.html


Could someone give a comparison of the OPV's vs the Long Range Patrol vessel?
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Offline weary1969

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #222 on: February 28, 2014, 02:19:22 PM »
Gary: Long range boat was on list
By Ria Taitt Political Editor

National Security Minister Gary Griffith said yesterday the decision to purchase a long range vessel from the Chinese was not done by vaps since “the acquisition of a long range patrol vessel was always part of Government’s maritime security lockdown”.

In an interview with the Express, Griffith said Government wanted a three-tiered approach, from the shoreline to two miles out, then from two miles to ten miles there would be coastal patrol vessels and the final tier involved the long range patrol vessel to secure the exclusive economic zone.

“It is not just putting OPVs and sailing aimlessly around the waters, but was part of the holistic lockdown of our shores,” he said.

“This was never a situation of vaps,” he added.

On the specific acquisition of the vessels from the Chinese, Griffith said it was confirmed in Cabinet when a naval implementation team was assigned specifically to investigate and acquire the best type of vessels for the three tiers (referred to earlier).

He said the team was appointed to prevent the purchase of a lot of defective items as happened under the previous administration. Citing the 12 interceptors, he said they were defective and the coast guard did not benefit from these purchases, while the taxpayer suffered.

“The BAE vessel was also defective,” he said.

Griffith said Government decided to select experts in the field to be part of the naval implementation team to go around the world to look at vessels to ensure the best ones could be obtained.

“It was shortlisted to four countries—Colombia, Korea, Holland and China,” he said.

He said the naval implementation team returned to Trinidad and Tobago “sometime in January ... so to say that this was not planned, or it was vaps, is not true”, he said.

 “We actually have it documented that the implementation team went to China,” the minister said.

Griffith said Government still had to finally confirm the vessels being acquired were still the best ones for Trinidad and Tobago. He said the selection of a vessel is very technical and therefore the implementation team had to do a more thorough analysis of the Chinese vessels “to ensure that it is appropriate for Trinidad and Tobago waters”.

He said he did not want a repeat of the Austal vessels where six were purchased from Australia and they were not appropriate for this country’s waters and are now unserviceable.

On the issue of the language difference, Griffith said it was comical and embarrassing in this day for critics of the acquisition of the Chinese vessels  to cite the language difference as a deterrent.

“That has never been a determining factor not to acquire military assets anywhere in the world,” he said, adding it was embarrassing to have persons even mention it.

“There is no part of this planet that is deemed to be too far because of technology. ... That went out in the 1990s,” he added.

He said the type of waters, the weaponry system, the level of training, the frequency of use were the issues to be considered when assessing compatibility of a vessel from anywhere in the world with Trinidad and Tobago.

Griffith said cost and financing were also critical. He said while he did not know the exact price of the Chinese vessels, he knew it was hundreds of millions of dollars less than the BAE OPVs which the former administration had agreed to buy.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had announced Government would purchase “in the shortest possible time” a long range vessel from China.

The decision was criticised by PNM MP Colm Imbert and former minister Jack Warner who described it as a “vaps”.

In 2007 the PNM had signed a £150 sterling contract for the purchase of OPVs but the People’s Partnership administration cancelled that contract as soon as it entered office.

 
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Offline Bourbon

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #223 on: March 11, 2014, 07:30:56 AM »
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/All-at-sea-249222211.html

   By Keith Subero

Story Created: Mar 9, 2014 at 10:49 PM ECT

Story Updated: Mar 9, 2014 at 10:49 PM ECT
First, let’s clear up the Government’s little word game over OPVs and LRVs. Let’s stop the confusion; an LRV (long range vessel) is just another OPV (offshore patrol vessel). Be clear about this: LRVs and OPVs are the same.
Second, it has happened again: another diplomatic mis-step — this time in China. Remember the Prime Minister’s first visit to the United States and the mixed reports from New York on her non-appearance at scheduled events?
Recall also, the controversy during the official visit to India. Remember those questions that arose in the diplomatic community over the appropriateness of a visiting prime minister attempting to kiss the feet of the Indian president?
Remember too, the visit to the US last year when only a deputy secretary of state was “available” for an official meeting, a situation that was described, again in the diplomatic community, as a “slight” by the US government?
During the recent official visit to China, we learned from the Office of the Prime Minister that the PM told the Chinese premier she was aware that his country was building two LRVs and she “pleaded” with him and “convinced” him to sell one to T&T in the shortest possible time.
To best understand the rashness of that official statement one needs to go back somewhere around 2002-3, when our Coast Guard was instructed to begin studying the OPVs for possible purchase.
A specialist unit studied the use of the vessels worldwide and then developed designs appropriate for local waters and sat under inter-ministerial supervision with various technical teams from the ministries of National Security and Finance.
After stops, restarts, redesigns and grinding deliberations, the Manning government in 2007 ordered, through worldwide tendering, three OPVs from the British dockyard, BAE.
The firm granted the government, in the interim, two used vessels, with spares. A 100-metre jetty was constructed at Coast Guard headquarters and some 150 men were sent to the UK for training, with others scheduled to follow. There were construction delays and BAE agreed to compensate T&T substantially.
In 2010, the new People’s Partnership administration cancelled the BAE contracts giving reasons reported as “incredible”, and varying with every new ministerial pronouncement.
One insider said last week: “For those of us in the know, the cancellation of the OPVs remains incredible! The reasons given to the media are not accurate. All ministers (of National Security) were briefed on the project, yet there are these public excuses. So T&T, after ten years, is back to zero.”
The cancellation was arbitrated in London, and BAE returned the deposit, not because T&T won, but because the vessels were bought immediately by the Brazilian coast guard which has since ordered six more.
The Manning government had intended to use the OPVs mainly in drug surveillance operations throughout the southern Caribbean. Yet, the People’s Partnership Government cancelled the BAE order without any replacement strategy, providing only the PM’s explanation that the fight against drugs would not be on the sea but on land.

Last year, the National Security Ministry conducted an audit of the Coast Guard. In January-February a team visited South Korea, Netherlands and Colombia to view their dockyards, and according to sources its members were in the process of reporting to the National Security Minister when our PM made the request to the Chinese premier.
The new National Security Minister now talks glibly about his plans for the LRVs to be part of a three-tier security wall around T&T. But a country does not purchase an OPV as if it were a retail store item, which is what the PM did in China last month. It takes years of detailed maritime studies and financial negotiations to conclude such arrangements.

Apparently, realising the Beijing mis-step, the PM last week tried to correct herself. She gave a new narrative; her request was neither “Chinese madness” nor absurdity.
“It was no on-the-spot decision. Far from it! It is a matter we have been looking at for some time,” and she added that the technical team had been mandated to look at the issue some time ago.
But her Beijing request was said to be a done deal. The statement from the Office of the Prime Minister indicated that the PM had “convinced” the Chinese premier to sell the LRV to T&T in the shortest possible time.
Yet the PM said on Thursday: “If a purchase is made from China, or from any other country, it will be in accordance with the agreed criteria and technical requirements, as well as the professional recommendations of the team.”
So on one hand there is the PM’s official request to the Chinese premier; on the other hand, she speaks of her Government’s plans to assess the report of the technical team.
Of considerable importance will be concerns of the governments of the Netherlands, South Korea and Colombia — the countries the team visited — which have not been informed through diplomatic channels of the Prime Minister’s Beijing decision.
So the Beijing deal? Or the team’s assessment? Once again we in T&T are left wondering which way is north.
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Offline che

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #224 on: March 14, 2014, 01:47:08 PM »

Offline MEP

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #225 on: March 16, 2014, 08:53:05 PM »
Ah hear that crime watch fella in the coast guard now ..he say it have plenty of ........

Offline Flex

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Govt borrowing $478m to buy patrol vessels
« Reply #226 on: June 01, 2015, 03:57:26 PM »
Govt borrowing $478m to buy patrol vessels
By Asha Javeed (Express).


The Government ordered 12 vessels from Dutch Damen Shipyards for TT$1.358 billion for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard without the money in hand to pay for them.

It accepted one vessel - the TTS Point Lisas - which Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar toured last Wednesday when it was docked at the Port of Spain Waterfront, without being able to make a downpayment.

The Government needs an immediate US$75 million to pay for six of the vessels.

And it will go to Parliament this week to secure it.

In the proposed Variation Appropriation Bill, the Ministry of National Security is seeking $478 million.

The Note recalls that "Cabinet agreed to source funding in the amount of US$75 million as a downpayment to ensure the delivery of naval assets. Pending finalisation of financing agreements with the preferred financial institution, the ministry requires funding in the short term in order to adhere to obligations to the vendor".

The Government's contract with Damen is for four Damen Stan Patrol 5009 coastal patrol vessels, two Damen Fast Crew Supply 5009 utility vessels, and six Damen Interceptor DI 1002 boats.

Persad-Bissessar, in her address, had said the second vessel - the TTS La Brea - would arrive in T&T tomorrow with the other four interceptor vessels due in July, with final receipt of all 12 by year-end.

Howai: We are borrowing to buy boats

Finance Minister Larry Howai said in response to e-mailed questions on Saturday: "Twelve ships have been ordered. One has so far been delivered. Another is due this week and a further one together with three interceptors in the next month. The payment process is not a problem. The payment to be made now is a downpayment on the 12 vessels. The Government has suppressed a number of expenditures over the past year and therefore has a number of options in the Appropriation Bill.

"We are borrowing to acquire the boat and we expect to complete the transaction in the week of June 22. There was a delay in doing so as there was not an appropriation in the budget and we shall correct that by making an appropriation in the bill that will go to Parliament next week."

Howai added:" This bill will be a variation rather than a supplementation so what that means is that we shall suppress expenditure (in keeping with our strategy to limit expenditure this year) to allow for the completion of the transaction without increasing the budgeted appropriation."

The Express understands that the Government's decision to vary its budgetary expenditure to accommodate the cost of the vessels is because it could not conclude a loan from a European Development Bank to fund the transaction on time.

Informed sources explained that it had approached First Citizens to secure a bond but was unable to do so because it would impact on the country's debt ceiling.

Debt ceiling not yet reached

According to the Central Bank data, as of March 2015, the Government had not yet reached its ceiling.

For the Development Loans Act, the legal limit is TT$30 billion and at the end of March 2015, the figure was TT$27.3 billion.

For the External Loans Act the legal limit is TT$15 billion and at the end of March 2015, the figure was TT$9.3 billion.

The Government then explored the option of having another State enterprise - the National Infrastructure Property Development Company (Nipdec) - take a loan of its behalf from First Citizens to acquire the vessels, as a bridge facility until the developmental loan was secured.

Howai confirmed this:

"We did explore the possibility of using Nipdec to acquire the vessel (as they do acquisitions for the Government) but, as I indicated in the previous e-mail, we are proposing to deal with it in the Appropriation Bill instead.

"We have not paid for the vessel as we need to obtain the approval first. In fact, I should add that once approval is received we don't necessarily need the loan as our cash position can allow for the acquisition without necessarily borrowing but we shall complete the loan as I want to ensure that we retain a good cash buffer," he said.

PM: Boats to patrol coasts

Persad-Bissessar had boasted that the vessels "will immediately get to work to boost the capability of the Defence Force to allow T&T more effective management of our coastal waters. The vessels will also patrol the waters of our country's exclusive economic zone".

She had also said that the 12 vessels cost less than the three offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) that were ordered by the PNM Government.

In the arbitration between Trinidad and Tobago and the UK firm British Aerospace Engineering (BAE) Systems, T&T was compensated $1.382 billion.

It was argued that the $1.382 billion settlement was simply a refund equivalent to the £133 million sale by BAE to Brazil.

And far from earning money from this arbitration, this country had actually lost - not in settlement but in dollars spent.

During his campaigning for the 2010 elections, Manning had posited that the drug lords had wanted him out of power because of his goal to eradicate the drug trade.

Three months after assuming office, the People's Partnership Government cancelled the order for the three OPVs on the basis of their missed deadlines and their weaponry did not conform to contract specifications.

In its 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports, the United States Government noted: "However, the new government has de-emphasised regional efforts and assistance programme, including some security-related projects that would impact counter-narcotics efforts, in order to focus greater attention on domestic issues."

On the OPVs, the Country Report on T&T stated: "There are no plans to supplant that deep-water patrol capability in the short-term."

It said the Government "struggles to effectively co-ordinate and implement its drug-control assets, and maintenance issues, corruption, and gaps in the legislative framework remain challenges."

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Offline Bourbon

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Re: Govt borrowing $478m to buy patrol vessels
« Reply #227 on: June 01, 2015, 04:56:18 PM »
It damn good for we.
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Offline zuluwarrior

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Re: Govt borrowing $478m to buy patrol vessels
« Reply #228 on: June 01, 2015, 05:19:42 PM »
In 2010 the fighting was not on the sea it was on land she refuse the OPV,in 2015 she want to fight crime on the sea Kams gul take a next drink of vodka with red bulls and tell everybody where too go and  fork themselves .
.
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Offline Sando prince

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Re: Govt borrowing $478m to buy patrol vessels
« Reply #229 on: June 01, 2015, 10:04:23 PM »


Every month we getting closer to the debt ceiling.

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Re: Govt borrowing $478m to buy patrol vessels
« Reply #230 on: June 02, 2015, 04:05:57 AM »
This corrupt incompetent government has done its 5 years and needs to call an election date so the public can plan to go to the polls to give its verdict on the government's performance over the last 5 years.

What this government proved in 2010 is that Trinidadians are very gullible and Tobagonians are generally much smarter and don't fall as easily for media PR.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2015, 04:09:15 AM by Socapro »
De higher a monkey climbs is de less his ass is on de line, if he works for FIFA that is! ;-)

Offline Flex

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #231 on: August 28, 2015, 05:54:05 AM »
PM hands over six vessels to Coast Guard.
By Joel Julien (Express).


SIX out of a dozen vessels purchased by the Government for the Coast Guard, at a cost of $1.3 billion, were handed over yesterday.

Delivering the feature address at Stauble’s Bay in Chaguaramas, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said we cannot put a price on the nation’s “security and protection”, and the investment is “money well spent”.

The six vessels—one coastal patrol vessel, two utility vessels and three interceptors—which were handed over yesterday are the first new vessels the Coast Guard has received in 30 years, Persad-Bissessar said.

The remaining six vessels are expected before the end of the year, she said.

“These vessels represent the first new vessels provided to the Coast Guard in three decades, 30 years, that is indeed significant as we celebrate our 52nd anniversary and, of course, the anniversary of the Coast Guard.

“So for the first time in 30 years, new vessels coming in, and I would like to also say that we have three more vessels due to come in before the end of the year, those are also equipped with interceptors, so there are three ships and the three interceptors as well,” said the Prime Minister.

The vessels cost approximately US$213.8 mil­lion, Persad-Bissessar said.

“The acquisition of the coastal patrol vessels, the utility vessels and the interceptors cost Trinidad and Tobago about US$213.8 million for the Defence Force...Coast Guard, but I do believe we cannot put a price on our nation’s security and protection, and this investment is mo­ney well spent so that you can feel safe, knowing that our security forces have the best equipment and tools available,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar said the vessels will help the Coast Guard more effectively secure this country.



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Offline Michael-j

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #232 on: August 28, 2015, 06:16:45 AM »
PM hands over six vessels to Coast Guard.
By Joel Julien (Express).



The six vessels—one coastal patrol vessel, two utility vessels and three interceptors—which were handed over yesterday are the first new vessels the Coast Guard has received in 30 years, Persad-Bissessar said.


“These vessels represent the first new vessels provided to the Coast Guard in three decades, 30 years, that is indeed significant as we celebrate our 52nd anniversary and, of course, the anniversary of the Coast Guard.

“So for the first time in 30 years, new vessels coming in, and I would like to also say that we have three more vessels due to come in before the end of the year, those are also equipped with interceptors, so there are three ships and the three interceptors as well,” said the Prime Minister.







Blatant lies. The Coast guard received 6 brand new fast patrol vessels (from Austal in Australia) 5 years ago under the last administration; a few of which were probably moored right behind her as she spoke.

Offline Bourbon

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #233 on: August 28, 2015, 08:36:07 AM »
PM hands over six vessels to Coast Guard.
By Joel Julien (Express).



The six vessels—one coastal patrol vessel, two utility vessels and three interceptors—which were handed over yesterday are the first new vessels the Coast Guard has received in 30 years, Persad-Bissessar said.


Dont worry. There are people who would believe it.

“These vessels represent the first new vessels provided to the Coast Guard in three decades, 30 years, that is indeed significant as we celebrate our 52nd anniversary and, of course, the anniversary of the Coast Guard.

“So for the first time in 30 years, new vessels coming in, and I would like to also say that we have three more vessels due to come in before the end of the year, those are also equipped with interceptors, so there are three ships and the three interceptors as well,” said the Prime Minister.







Blatant lies. The Coast guard received 6 brand new fast patrol vessels (from Austal in Australia) 5 years ago under the last administration; a few of which were probably moored right behind her as she spoke.


Well there are people who would believe what she said.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2015, 09:10:52 AM by Bourbon »
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Offline R45

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #234 on: August 28, 2015, 09:21:07 AM »
Blatant lies. The Coast guard received 6 brand new fast patrol vessels (from Austal in Australia) 5 years ago under the last administration; a few of which were probably moored right behind her as she spoke.
Yeah don't understand her comment - her speech writers must be confusing themselves. The coast guard has gotten brand new boats over the last 30 years. I think that they are getting confused about the smaller interceptor boats or the longer range patrol boats and misleading the public.

These are the 6 brand new interceptor boats purchased under the last Manning administration:

CG11 T&T Scarlet Ibis
CG12 T&T Hibiscus
CG13 T&T Humming Bird
CG14 T&T Chaconia
CG 15 T&T Poui
CG16 T&T Teak

We haven't had a brand new patrol boats however in a few years, but we've acquired refurbished boats over the last decade.

2008 - CG22 TTS Chacachacare (formerly the MV Andrew) - Acquired by the last Manning administration
2008 - CG21 TTS Gaspar Grande (formerly the MV Tammany) - Acquired by the last Manning administration
2001 - CG10 TTS Bacolet Point (formerly the Point Highland from the USCG) - this was also acquired during the UNC/Panday administration which Kamla was part of
2001 - CG9 TTS Galera Point (formerly the Point Bonita from the USCG) - this was also acquired during the UNC/Panday administration which Kamla was part of
2000 - CG20 TTS Nelson (formerly the HMS Orkney of the British Navy) - this was also acquired during the UNC/Panday administration which Kamla was part of. This was the boat that spent 99.9% of its time docked near the Cruise Ship complex then ended up getting hit by a St Vincent Ferry boat and put out of service. It is (was?) our only "Island" class vessel.
1999 - CG8 TTS Crown Point (formerly the Point Heyer from the USCG) - this was acquired during the UNC/NAR administration which Kamla was also part of
1999 - CG7 TTS Corozal Point (formerly the Point Bennett from the USCG) - this was acquired during the UNC/NAR administration which Kamla was also part of

That said, whether a boat is "brand new" or purchased refurbished, the biggest problem is the maintenance of these ships. Our coast guard has been notorious for the last several decades of doing a poor job on keeping these boats sea-worthy. If we don't fix that underlying issue, no amount of new toys are going to help us.

Additionally, given that it is reported that the majority of illegal drugs/guns come into our country through legal ports (shipping containers / docked ships / airport), all these politicians are fooling the public unless they start really addressing our corrupt customs.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2015, 10:17:41 AM by R45 »

Offline Jumbie

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #235 on: August 28, 2015, 11:53:54 AM »
In reporting, should Mr Julien  not made some sort of edit or note/byline or something to the article mentioning or questioning the remark made by the Hon Prime Minister?

Offline R45

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Re: T&T Coast Guard new vessels
« Reply #236 on: August 29, 2015, 12:20:48 PM »
In reporting, should Mr Julien  not made some sort of edit or note/byline or something to the article mentioning or questioning the remark made by the Hon Prime Minister?

I think you're suggesting our journalists apply critical thinking when writing articles  :rotfl:

 

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