MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY

ADDRESS BY

SENATOR THE HONOURABLE EMMANUEL GEORGE MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY AT THE 8TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMISSIONING

OF

THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AIR GUARD

PLACE: Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard Ulric Cross Air Station, Piarco

DATE: Wednesday 8th August, 2013

TIME: 4.00 p.m. (1600 hrs.)

1

Ladies and gentlemen, I am indeed honoured and happy to be here this afternoon to join the Commanding Officer, Officers and Other Ranks of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard in celebrating the 8th Anniversary of the Air Guards commissioning. Ladies and gentlemen, the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard as it is presently called has come some way from the days when it was first created as a sub-unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Cabinet Minute No 1936 of August 01, 2005 gave birth to the Air Guard when it granted approval for the transition of the existing Air Wing Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard into an Air Service Formation Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force styled the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, the Air Guard to be staffed initially by the existing staff of the Air Wing. The thinking behind this Cabinet decision was that a complete restructuring of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force was required at the time and the refocusing of the Air Guard was part of that entire initiative. Indeed the research would show that up until that time the role of the Air Wing was seen as to provide air services in support of
2

national security goals and objectives, with the main responsibility being to support vessels of the Coast Guards sea going fleet in the provision of continuous surveillance of the maritime territory of Trinidad and Tobago, to the limit of this countrys two hundred (200) mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This mission was accomplished through air patrols in support of Search and Rescue Missions (SAR), Maritime Resource Protection, Joint Operations with Local and Foreign Agencies, Tactical Air Support for Naval and Land-based Operations and Pollution Monitoring. By contrast its future role in the context of the abovementioned restructuring of the entire Defence Force all in the face of changing circumstances both locally and internationally, was seen as ensuring that it was capable of contributing to improved national security regional security and the conduct of a range of defence and security operations. In that regard, it was observed at the time that the Trinidad and Tobagos Defence Force was being called more and more to provide support to the civil authorities in a range of functions including:-

a. Counter Terrorist Activities (for example, responses to possible crisis incidents affecting offshore economic assets). b. Anti-crime operations and activities c. Additional Tactical Air Support for the Maritime and Land Forces operations of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force d. Medical Evacuations e. Troop Transport for overseas deployment f. Forest Fire Fighting The establishment of the Air Guard was therefore by way of response to its obviously changing role in terms of the requirements of changing social, economic, developmental, security and environmental protection needs of Trinidad and Tobago. In other words the time had come for an Air Guard that would be responsible for conducting a range of air operations here in Trinidad and Tobago and also to lend its capabilities and expertise in the area of security to the wider Caribbean region. Ladies and gentlemen the Peoples Partnership Government is committed to securing the interests of Trinidad and Tobago and assisting regional territories in this arena. This involves a commitment to building and
4

maintaining in a cost effective manner, an appropriately sized and equipped Air Guard responding to national, regional and global changes and ensuring that it remains relevant in todays circumstances. Plans have been outlined that will facilitate the delivery of projects aimed at providing the Air Guard and by extension the entire Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force with the modern physical environment, technology and equipment it requires in concert with international military standards. This development programme will focus on

enhancing the strategic capability of the Air Guard in alignment with the Defence Force strategic goals and the governments strategic plan. In the case of the latter, plans in relation to crime reduction and human security will in part form the framework of future initiatives for the development of the Air Guard. In this context therefore, ladies and gentlemen, the future development of the Air Guard would afford the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force the ability to fulfil the requirement to protect the people, the natural and economic resources of Trinidad and Tobago and to perform its regional obligations with competence. To the officers of the Trinidad and
5

Tobago Defence Force and the Air Guard may I stress that the role of the Air Guard is and will continue to be significant to the achievement of these goals and it is imperative that you recognise and uphold your responsibility to ensure that Trinidad and Tobagos security

arrangements are never compromised even in the smallest way. Accordingly, I urge all Officers and Other Ranks of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard to provide diligently the kind of aerial support to the other arms of the Defence Force, the Police Service and other law enforcement as well as to the government of Trinidad and Tobago, thereby contributing to the national security of our country. Once again let me congratulate you the Chief of Defence Staff, Commanding Officer, Officers and Other Ranks of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard and your families on this milestone of the Eighth Anniversary of the Commissioning of the Air Guard. Happy anniversary and I thank you.