The Opposition Leader told a news conference that Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar must tell the nation “the true reasons” for the decision to cancel the contract which was signed by the previous Manning PNM government. Rowley was a PNM MP at then time but had been kicked out of cabinet.
Rowley told reporters if the $1.5 billion contract is scrapped it would be to the detriment of the security of the twin-island republic.
He expressed concern that while the government is cancelling the contract for the OPVs it is going ahead with another contract signed by the previous administration to buy four helicopters.
“These are helicopters specifically designed to work in the marine environment on the ships. So without the ships the most you could do with them is to operate them from land," he argued.
He said land-based aircraft would be very limited in their effectiveness, noting that a ship could stay out for up to 35 days.
The contract documents stated that the four helicopters will be for the use of The Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard (TTAG), a dedicated unit involved in search and rescue, surface surveillance, law enforcement, drug interdiction and disaster relief.
The helicopters were to be part of the country's national security upgrade that included the three offshore patrol boats (OPVs) ordered at a cost of TT$1.5 billion.
Related column: Column: Can TT gov't afford $2.3B helicopters?
National Security Minister John Sandy last weekend re-affirmed the government’s decision to cancel the contract, telling Parliament that the lives of soldiers and other security forces would be put at risk because of the problems associated with the vessels.
The government has also said the ships are too expensive, had mechanical defaults and the manufacturer had failed to deliver them on time.
Related story: We don't owe one cent to BAE: PM Kamla
Former Works and Transport minister Colm Imbert was part of an inter-ministerial team established by the Manning government to discuss the problems with the manufacturers. He appeared at the news conference and told reporters there was an agreement with BAE to fix the problems with the vessels.
“The contract allowed for a payment to the government of TT$63 million (US$10.3 million) for delays. So after a series of negotiations it was agreed…that the ship builder would supply free of charge…six fast interceptor craft with associated training and support valued in total at 8.9 million pounds sterling or TT$89 million.
“In addition the ship builder would deliver support to the interim vessels that would have been acquired without any additional charge and maintenance services at a cost of US$1.8 million."
Read more in the Trinidad Guardian
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