Former Police Commissioner and current NTA leader Gary Griffith, said the recent suggestion by THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to rent pirogues for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard to patrol Tobago’s waters is not only misguided but also shows a clear lack of understanding of border security and the proper utilization of our national resources.
In a statement, Griffith said this approach is not the solution, as it is a disservice to our highly trained Coast Guard personnel and a continuation of the systemic failures under the Rowley administration.
He said: “As someone who has spent 17 years in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, working alongside Coast Guard officers, and having served as Minister of National Security, I am deeply concerned by this proposal. The primary role of the Coast Guard is to secure our waters from two miles to 200 miles out, our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Suggesting that we throw these trained professionals into rented pirogues to patrol close to shore is a blatant disrespect to their training and expertise.”
Griffith continued by saying he understood the need for a comprehensive approach to border security, and reignited the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Marine Branch during his tenure, after decades of it being shut down.
“This unit was specifically designed to patrol the shoreline up to two miles out, working in tandem with the Coast Guard, which would manage the deeper waters. This initiative was supported by the Prime Minister at the time, who directed me to establish a similar setup in Tobago.
However, following my departure, both McDonald Jacob and Erla Christopher dismantled this initiative. The vessels that were supposed to secure Tobago’s shoreline remain unused, leaving the island vulnerable to illegal activities.”
In addition to the TTPS Marine Branch, Griffith said he also acquired six Damen vessels, including the 50-meter patrol vessel “Speyside,” specifically designed to patrol the waters around Tobago from two miles to 200 miles out.
“These vessels, which cost $1.2 billion less than the three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) previously considered, have the capability to patrol more extensive areas simultaneously. Despite being ready for deployment since 2015, these vessels have remained moored, unused due to political spite, bad mind and wilful negligence.”
According to Griffith, the proper strategy to secure Tobago’s borders involved the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones), the National Operations Center (NOC) in Tobago, and radar monitoring, all coordinated with the TTPS Marine Branch and the Damen vessels.
He said “This multi-layered approach would have ensured that illegal drugs, weapons, and human trafficking were intercepted before reaching Tobago’s shores, even if for instance they left Toco or Blanchisseuse and looped around to avoid detection, as some boats do presently.”
“Unfortunately, this entire security infrastructure for Tobago—including the NOC, radar monitoring, drone approval, the Speyside Damen Vessel assigned to Tobago and the TTPS Marine Branch in Tobago—has been dismantled by the current Administration, leaving Tobago exposed to the very threats we sought to prevent.”
Griffith said it is evident that under Keith Rowley, driven by pettiness, and now Farley Augustine, driven by desperation and a lack of understanding of proper border protection operational policy, Tobago remains exposed to criminal elements.
“This vulnerability will persist unless an Administration with individuals who possess the capability and understanding of the roles and functions of law enforcement agencies, including the Coast Guard, comes into Office. Additionally, this Administration must have the political will to secure Tobago, which is exactly what we intend to do immediately following the next general elections.”
“In the meantime, a word of advice for Mr. Augustine: Do not disrespect the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.”