US radar “served us well”

2026-03-21 - 16:36

Jesse Ramdeo Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the United States-operated radar once based in Tobago “it did serve us well,” as she addressed concerns over its removal. She spoke on Saturday after Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations at the Marakaz-Al-ASJA Jamaat in Charlieville, where she also defended the Government’s crime measures, including the latest State of Emergency. “We were lucky to have it the time we had it. They need it for their own use, as you know. They’re on another front, and they probably need it for that purpose. But it did serve us well, and we thank them very much for it,” she said. The Opposition People’s National Movement has raised concerns over transparency surrounding the radar’s installation and removal from the ANR Robinson International Airport site in Tobago. Deputy political leader Sanjiv Boodhu said the country remains unclear on whether the system benefited Trinidad and Tobago. Persad-Bissessar said crime strategies are producing results, pointing to a drop in killings. “We continue in the fight against crime. We have several initiatives. Some have already borne fruit. We have seen crime at the lowest it has been in many, many years. The murders have been down by 42%. Let’s not forget that.” She defended the decision to impose another SOE. “People are saying, why another SOE? Because only 42% down. We need to bring it down by the largest number, so 100 minus 42 is what? 58% more that we have to work to bring down. We continue to work on that. Safety and security remains very high on our priority.”