Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert and National Security Minister Gary Griffith yesterday had a verbal tug of war in Parliament over a $50 million allocation for the purchase of vehicles for the T&T Coast Guard. The allocation was announced on September 8 by Finance Minister Larry Howai in the presentation of the 2014/2015 budget.
Imbert yesterday raised questions about Government’s intention to buy 50-metre vessels for the Coast Guard, despite not making appropriate budget allocations for the purchases, He was speaking during day two of the Standing Finance Committee meeting at the Parliament Building, Waterfront Complex, Port-of-Spain. Griffith was asked by Morvant/Laventille MP Donna Cox about a line item in his ministry’s $2.6 billion budget, which dealt with the acquisition of vessels for the Coast Guard.
He was later asked by Imbert whether the Chinese vessels, which Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had said would be purchased, were now off the table. “I won’t be able to say that now,” said Griffith. Imbert then asked him to give a breakdown of what the $50 million provision would be used to purchase. “You said interceptor, hovercraft, maybe a 50-metre, but one 50-metre will cost $50 million so do you have any idea what you are going to buy?” Imbert asked.
Griffith explained that the request would cover hovercrafts and interceptors. He was quickly interrupted by Imbert who questioned why Griffith had said there would be a purchase of 50 metres. “Why would you say you are buying a 50-metre if you don’t have enough money for it?” Imbert asked. “There is an approval for two 50-metre vessels,” Griffith answered.
Imbert questioned how the ministry would pay for the vehicles without an allocation, then asked if Griffith had abandoned the acquisition of fast patrol vessels. “Why have you abandoned the acquisition of fast patrol vessels? You have no allocation for it?” he asked. “It is all different, if you call it fast patrol vessels or coastal patrol vessels,” Griffith said. “So 50-metre vessels, fast patrol vessels, interceptors, hovercrafts, cote ci, cote la, all for $50 million?” Imbert asked.
Imbert also asked for the allocation for unmanned vehicles or drones and other equipment promised by Griffith. Griffith seemed unable to answer most of the questions on spot and made commitments to provide detailed information at a later date.