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Author Topic: Kamla reveals new defence plan  (Read 1132 times)

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Offline Flex

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Kamla reveals new defence plan
« on: June 09, 2011, 04:44:29 AM »
Kamla reveals new defence plan
By SEAN DOUGLAS Thursday, June 9 2011


PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the country would be protected by 12 Coast Guard stations from which fast interceptor boats could be launched, supported by larger patrol vessels, coastal radar and helicopters.

She was speaking yesterday at the formal commissioning of two Agusta Westland AW139 helicopters at the TT Air Guard Headquarters at Piarco.

She said her Government’s new Naval Operational Plan replaces the former regime’s costly “cosmetic plans and policies” such as Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs).

“We scrapped the OPV deal and thus saved billions of dollars which can now be used for other more critical and productive national security assets,” she declared.

The Prime Minister explained that the deal for an “armada of OPVs” was scotched on the advice of top officers of the TT Defence Force, previous Chiefs of Defence Staff, diplomats, and local and foreign security consultants.

Instead, a three-pronged plan would safeguard this country as virtually impenetrable, she said.

The first line of defence was 12 Coast Guard stations strategically placed around the country with fast boats to secure the country better than an OPV patrolling 100 miles off the East Coast (where most smuggling does not occur).

Each station will have two interceptors to be on patrol, or on standby. “This will ensure a rapid reaction with the crew onboard being armed and awaiting word...”.

These boats would patrol bays, coastal areas and shorelines up to four miles out to sea, said Persad-Bissessar.

“In the second line of defence, these installations will be ably supported by the six fast patrol larger crafts, already in service to patrol our territorial waters from six miles to 12 miles from our shoreline.”

Backing the interceptors, these patrol craft would work out of bases such as Galeota and Tobago.

“In the third line of defence, we will have a Long Range Patrol Vessel, which would be 60 to 75 metres in length, much less costly, more manoeuverable and adaptable to our shores than the OPVs, and hence of greater value. It will patrol from 12 miles to 200 miles from mostly the North and East Coast.”

This would protect TT’s Exclusive Economic Zone. All would be coordinated through a 360 degree radar system run by a new National Security Operational Centre, said Persad-Bissessar.

The centre would send interceptors to any suspect vessel entering TT’s waters, and communicate with police stations, near to the relevant Coast Guard stations.

“The two Agusta Westland Twin Engine multi-purpose helicopters which we have acquired today will patrol our shorelines, and work alongside these Coast Guard installations and the interceptor vessels patrolling our waters as well as the six Fast Patrol crafts and the Long Range Patrol vessel patrolling the North and East Coast,” she enthused.

“They will provide the powerful eyes, at day or night around our island to act as a support element for the Coast Guard in the patrolling of our borders. The Radar Centre would have the capability to speak to the helicopter crew and the Coast Guard vessels so that a combined effort can be made.”
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Offline Jah Gol

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Re: Kamla reveals new defence plan
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2011, 07:25:13 AM »

“We scrapped the OPV deal and thus saved billions of dollars which can now be used for other more critical and productive national security assets,” she declared.


Tell us about the penalties we will pay for no vessels.

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Re: Kamla reveals new defence plan
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2011, 09:00:45 AM »
In all honesty, I much prefer this to the OPV's. 

1.  OPV's cost an arm and a leg to maintain.
2.  The pilots for the Helicopters have to be very well trained to land on a vessel pitching and yawing, far less moving and do the same.
3.  The man power to operate these OPV's..where are they or were they coming from?


Now to address the PM's plan.

1.  You are planning to operate more CG bases, I hope this is accompanied by a recruitment drive.
2.   For the pan to be effective we will need MORE small boats and a supplementation of the existing assets.  i.e. we need to upgrade the existing fleet, make sure parts are readily available and at least 4 more fast patrol vessels.
3.  We need to make sure we have a life maintenance program for the microwave and existing radar.  (each time we have a problem t costs too much to bring in the damn Israelis to do repairs.)  Would have been more effective if we had gone American with the radar!  We could have used their NORAD system.  A simple call to Raytheon and we fix!
4.  Increased training for CGmen, customs and police to include interdiction, security and across the board cooperation and sharing of intel.
5.  Purchase of 5 long range vessels.
6.  To be effective, the CG bases MUST be better fitted out, with up to date command centers for coordination, elimination of stovepipes and to prevent duplication of effort.  Additionally, the living quarters need to be MUCH, MUCH better and comfortable, vector control MUST be given priority.
7.  The men and women of the Coast Guard must be coached on proper nutrition, given yearly arms qualifications and continuing education on the latest on interdiction and prevention.

Bearing in mind that the purview of the T&T Coast Guard should be up to the high water mark....we should have the resources to send divers DOWN from inside a vessel with them having to go OVER the side of the vessel and be seen.  As drug dealers are becoming more inventive, we need to have our own bag of tricks.

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Kamla reveals new defence plan
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2011, 07:42:12 PM »
http://www.caribbeantrakker.com/2011/06/british-defense-company-sues-tt-over-cancelled-opvs/

Port-of-Spain: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has confirmed that UK defence machinery-builders BAE Systems, is legally challenging the state over the cancellation of a billion dollar contract to construct three drug-busting offshore patrol ships. Persad-Bissessar spoke to reporters at the Trinidad Hilton this morning.

In 2007 BAE Systems had been contracted to provide three Offshore Patrol Vessels and ancillary support in a deal worth approximately TT$2 billion.

However shortly after the People’s Partnership Government assumed office, the deal was cancelled, with Minister of National Security Brigadier John Sandy citing that the vessels were defective.

He gave Parliament the assurance that the Government was well within its contractual rights to cancel the deal.

However the Opposition warned that this country would face legal action.

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Offline elan

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Re: Kamla reveals new defence plan
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2011, 08:30:47 PM »
http://www.caribbeantrakker.com/2011/06/british-defense-company-sues-tt-over-cancelled-opvs/

Port-of-Spain: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has confirmed that UK defence machinery-builders BAE Systems, is legally challenging the state over the cancellation of a billion dollar contract to construct three drug-busting offshore patrol ships. Persad-Bissessar spoke to reporters at the Trinidad Hilton this morning.

In 2007 BAE Systems had been contracted to provide three Offshore Patrol Vessels and ancillary support in a deal worth approximately TT$2 billion.

However shortly after the People’s Partnership Government assumed office, the deal was cancelled, with Minister of National Security Brigadier John Sandy citing that the vessels were defective.

He gave Parliament the assurance that the Government was well within its contractual rights to cancel the deal.

However the Opposition warned that this country would face legal action.



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Offline Bakes

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Re: Kamla reveals new defence plan
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2011, 02:27:42 AM »
Dumbasses... this was the only logical outcome, as sure as night follows day.  What BAE was supposed to forego a couple hundred million pounds in money it was rightly owed?  If I didn't know better I'd say was Om Lalla advising these dunces.  The kinda advice he giving Jack these past 5 years is ah wonder he still have ah license.

Offline Jah Gol

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Re: Kamla reveals new defence plan
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2011, 08:53:12 AM »
I want to see how they saving money now.

 

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