She said in the past year crime fighting measures have yielded positive results with a drop in serious crimes, especially the rate of murders, which is the lowest it has been in four years.
"A major philosophy of my Government’s crime plan has always been to reduce crime risks by maintaining a strong deterrent and by seeking genuine control over our detection, prevention and suppression rates," she said.
Persad-Bissessar said while the strategy of deterrence has been quite effective the world has changed and her government is dealing with that fact.
"We live in a different world and a different reality and our defences must be based on recognition and awareness of the technological strength possessed by the criminal elements and our firm commitment to not only matching them, but beating them.
"And so, I firmly believe that these aircraft will go a long way in boosting our technological strengths in our fight against crime."
The Prime Minister added that the new helicopters would be invaluable in the fight against international drug trafficking, human trafficking, environmental destruction, unsustainable marine-resource exploitation and disaster management and relief.
In addition, she said they would assist in strengthening regional security partnerships by providing an unprecedented capability to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
She said the two aircraft give the Defence Forces greater capability for search and rescue and disaster relief efforts to Trinidad and Tobago's smaller Caricom neighbours during their times of need and peril, as well as providing increased and improved surveillance though the Regional Marine and Airspace Agreement.
She noted that the cost for the OPV was approximately $800 million TT each, and this did not include several hidden costs which the taxpayers would have been burdened with which was not stated in the contract, such as fuel and sewerage lines, test firing of weapons and so on.
"We did not need to use an expensive sledgehammer to kill a fly," she said. "We need fast, maneuverable vessels."
Persad-Bissessar said in the past decade the criminal element in Trinidad and Tobago was emboldened to extend their power by the seeming lack of willpower and proper policy to deal with crime. "I say to you today as I have done before—no more."
She added, "Our crime fighting strategy means we need security and defence equipment that reflect the highest standards, quality and advancement of today’s technology and human resources which are trained and ready to respond to any situation.
"Every item in our security and defence programmes - our naval vessels, ships, our aircraft, our land patrols, our training for our human resources - is intended for one all-important purpose: to make our country safe and secure from the various and numerous criminal elements that threaten our citizens.
She repeated her pledge to compensate members of the protective services. "I indicated before and I will repeat that in the new budget that is to come every soldier, every sailor, every air man, every police officer, every prisons officer will get a special duty allowance of $1,000 per month."
She repeated her pledge to compensate members of the protective services. "I indicated before and I will repeat that in the new budget that is to come every soldier, every sailor, every air man, every police officer, every prisons officer will get a special duty allowance of $1,000 per month."
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