British HC happy that OPV matter resolved

File: British HC Arthur Snell

The British High Commissioner to T&T told the Guardian newspaper he is  "delighted" that the OPV matter between Trinidad & Tobago and the British company, BAE Systems is over.

Arthur Snell said, "It's great that they have resolved this issue. As long as it was hanging over I think it prevented both the Government of this country and BAE in terms of progressing to other projects and other priorities. 

“I think it’s good that they have reached a settlement and a mutually agreed settlement,” Snell added. 

The Diplomat was one of the people who assisted in the negotiations to settle the matter. Under the deal announced Wednesday by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, BAE has agreed to pay T&T $1.3 billion.The dispute arose in September 2010 when the People's Partnership Government canceled its contract to buy three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). 

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar described the expenditure on the boats as pouring money into a "black hole" and stated that BAE was in breach of its contract with T&T.