Dirk Barnes is a former major in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. The Express said Barnes also dismissed suggestions that he, or any of his former associates, had a personal friendship with Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs or Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Ewatski.
"I never limed with (Ewatski). I don't call him like that. I know the man and we met when the project was proposed. We have no personal relationship," the paper quoted barnes as saying.
"I would welcome anyone to audit the process as my actions were above board," he added.
Opposition MP Donna Cox said in Parliament Friday that his contract may be as a result of a personal relationship with Ewatski.
She was speaking on a motion calling on Government to cease its "systematic dismantling" of the national security systems and structures and to implement an effective national security system to secure the country's borders to reduce crime.
Cox spoke of a contract using a Zenith CH 750 Air Scout Aircraft for a three-month evaluation period at a cost of TT$902,772 (US$140,400). Cox said anyone could buy the plane on the Internet and assemble it for just under $US20,000.
The Express said Barnes laughed at Cox's claims.
"It is US$21,000 for the kit or the box of parts containing the plane's fuselage, its tail, its wings and landing gear. There is no engine, no seats no avionics, no nothing, just a box of parts. I would love to see someone fly a box of parts," he said.
"Then there is the engine—$20,000 and then there is the avionics which is $17,000 and this is in US dollars. Now we have to paint the aircraft and that's between US$2,500 and US$4,000."
The paper said Barnes also said that it would take a builder about 1,000 hours to assemble the aircraft at a labour rate of between US$55 and US$90 an hour. "So that's $55,000 total to get the thing built," he said.
"It is US$21,000 for the kit or the box of parts containing the plane's fuselage, its tail, its wings and landing gear. There is no engine, no seats no avionics, no nothing, just a box of parts. I would love to see someone fly a box of parts," he said.
"Then there is the engine—$20,000 and then there is the avionics which is $17,000 and this is in US dollars. Now we have to paint the aircraft and that's between US$2,500 and US$4,000."
The paper said Barnes also said that it would take a builder about 1,000 hours to assemble the aircraft at a labour rate of between US$55 and US$90 an hour. "So that's $55,000 total to get the thing built," he said.
The Express said it watched the plane builder make routine checks of the aircraft, including a takeoff using about 80 feet of runway.
It said Barnes explained that the Air Scout Aircraft could fly at a slower speed than small aircraft such as a Cessna, which gives it an advantage in surveillance over a small geographical area.
Ewatski issued a release Friday on the matter. "The light aircraft will be equipped with similar technology as in the helicopters and due to its ability to fly at a very slow speed even compared to traditional fixed wing aircraft may be an alternative to helicopters which are much more costly to maintain," he said.
It said Barnes explained that the Air Scout Aircraft could fly at a slower speed than small aircraft such as a Cessna, which gives it an advantage in surveillance over a small geographical area.
Ewatski issued a release Friday on the matter. "The light aircraft will be equipped with similar technology as in the helicopters and due to its ability to fly at a very slow speed even compared to traditional fixed wing aircraft may be an alternative to helicopters which are much more costly to maintain," he said.
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