Jesse Ramdeo
Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds has confirmed that T&T’s two Austal cape-class patrol vessels will resume functions by the end of the month.
During yesterday’s Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, Hinds said the vessels had undergone maintenance works and were scheduled to resume operations soon.
“We have refreshed a contract with Austal for their maintenance and we expect both these vessels to be back in the water in support of the people of Trinidad and Tobago by the end of this month,” he said.
According to Hinds, the vessels, which were acquired in 2021, had been used more than usual, warranting the maintenance works.
“In the absence of the Damen vessels and in the enthusiasm, properly so, on the part of the Defence Force to protect the borders of Trinidad and Tobago, those vessels were made to work a little more than they ordinarily would have had to work. They normally would work a seven-day on and a seven-day off routine,” he said.
Hinds also dismissed claims that the hulls of both vessels had been damaged.
“All information from the experts who operate these vessels in the Coast Guard, there is no question, no issue around the hull of those vessels,” he said.
Last month, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel, reported that equipment on the vessels had to be replaced and upgraded, but global logistics issues had delayed the delivery of the parts needed for repairs.
Hinds yesterday further noted a $3 million allocation for the establishment of a Seismic Fusion Centre, which was aimed at improving crime-fighting strategies by merging data and sharing it with other agencies.
Opposition members questioned the allocation, with St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen expressing confusion over the institution’s role in responding to natural disasters.
Hinds also said efforts were being made to acquire new vehicles for the T&T Fire Service to bolster the current fleet, half of which was either in need of repair or out of operation.
He acknowledged that while most fire stations were outfitted with fire tenders and other vehicles, the ageing fleet could pose a series of risks and confirmed that orders had already been placed for the new vehicles and necessary fire-fighting equipment.
He said, “As we speak, there is on order a 50 per cent down payment paid for five water tender emergency vehicles and they are expected to be delivered in 2025. Paid for, deposit made, order made and they are specialised vehicles custom built for our needs as requested by Trinidad and Tobago.”
He also said attention would be given to addressing the staffing issue affecting lifeguards, which had been a continued cause for concern.
“In respect of the very busy weekends like Easter and so on, when more lifeguards are obviously needed, the ministry makes it a practice, a habit, to call out all of the lifeguards to cope with Carnival weekends, but one must publicly admit there are some serious issues around that arrangement,” Hinds said.
“Sometimes when you call out all, they do not all come out and they come late and a whole lot of stuff and they are fortified by a collective bargaining agreement which creates its own challenges, so the ministry recognising this, where problems arise as a result of that, has embarked upon a programme to correct this situation and that programme is underway.”