Friday, November 20 2009

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Warship TT bound: The British warship HMS Iron Duke returns to TT to help regional and local security forces provide security for the world leaders at...

BRITISH, Canadian, Colombian and Caricom security forces will be protecting Queen Elizabeth II, Commonwealth leaders, other Heads of State and dignitaries who will be attending next week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago. This was revealed by National Security Minister Martin Joseph at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.

“From Great Britain, the HMS Iron Duke is expected to arrive in port by November 25,” Joseph disclosed. The Iron Duke visited the country earlier this year. The frigate has a crew of 185 persons and an arsenal which includes two 30 mm guns, stingray torpedoes, sea wolf and harpoon missiles. The Iron Duke also has a Westland Lynx helicopter which has search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Joseph also said a Canadian warship will arrive in Port-of-Spain on November 25. The largest vessels which the Royal Canadian Navy has are Halifax-class frigates which have crews of 225 persons. The armaments of these vessels include Honeywell MK46 torpedoes, sea sparrow and harpoon missiles and CH-124 Sea King helicopters. While Colombia is not a Commonwealth nation, Joseph said a seven member dive team from Colombia are “also in the country.”

The minister said 23 soldiers from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force arrived in the country on Wednesday. A Barbados naval vessel will arrive in Port-of-Spain on November 24. A total of 77 Jamaican soldiers and 30 Jamaican police officers have either arrived or are in the process of arriving in TT. Guyana and Suriname are sending a combined contingent of 84 soldiers and 70 police officers. Belize will contribute 30 police officers while St Kitts and Nevis is sending 24 soldiers.

In total, 300 Caricom military personnel and 150 police officers will be in the country to support their local and international counterparts in providing security for CHOGM. Noting that traffic arrangements have been made public by notices published by the National Secretariat and Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert, Joseph said: “What is clear is that the restrictions for CHOGM are less restrictive than they were for the Fifth Summit of the Americas.”

Joseph said operational details about CHOGM security will be provided by CHOGM Gold Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.