Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has launched a blistering defence of Tobago’s new radar system, accusing the opposition People’s National Movement of trying to undermine national security and acting under the influence of criminal networks tied to Venezuela’s sanctions-evading oil trade.
At the heart of the row are questions raised by Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, who demanded transparency on the radar’s cost, operators, and data controls during a press conference earlier Wednesday.
In an official statement the same day, Persad-Bissessar blamed rising violent crime on the “local drug mafia” and “sanction-busting Venezuelan criminal collaborators,” saying the new radar gives the ability to spot threats—especially illegal Venezuelan crude transfers and trafficking of narcotics, weapons, ammunition, and migrants—in ways the country never could before.
Persad-Bissessar publicly challenged the opposition party to disclose sensitive details she suggested they had long avoided admitting.
“Disclose to the citizens how long the PNM has known that the previous radar system has been compromised.”
She then escalated her call, pushing for exposure of alleged links between political figures, private interests, and criminal access.
“Make public the names of the local business people affiliated with the PNM and local drug mafia who have had illegal access to classified radar surveillance information.”
The Prime Minister also demanded the opposition explain operational failures under the previous administration, particularly regarding sanctioned Venezuelan oil movements.
“Explain why the existing radar system operated under the PNM government for years, did not detect oil tankers engaged in the ship-to-ship transfer of sanctioned Venezuelan oil within Trinidadian waters…”
She further questioned the motivation behind the party’s earlier criticism of U.S.-supplied radar assets.
“Explain to the country whether the PNM’s anti-American narrative to remove the American-supplied radar system is really due to pressure or blackmail from the local drug mafia…”
Beckles, for her part, dismissed the claims and accused the Prime Minister of recklessly politicising national security for optics, denying any political-mafia ties or drug trafficking involvement.
“We will not accept this Honorable Prime Minister causing distractions and creating mischief by accusing us… of drug trafficking,” she said.
Beckles repeatedly called on Persad-Bissessar to hand over any evidence to authorities, closing her remarks twice with:
“I close by saying to the Prime Minister if you have the information take it to the police.”
During her press briefing, Beckles demanded clarity on system funding and training, including who runs the radar, how it works, and how its data is handled or secured.
“The population of Trinidad and Tobago is entitled to know what did that radar cost? Who installed that radar? Whether any Trinidadian or Tobagonian has been trained to operate that radar?” Beckles said. “The people… are entitled to know what is happening to the data that is collected…”
She also queried recent U.S. defence engagements and the timing of a U.S. military aircraft landing in Tobago just days after the Prime Minister denied discussing Venezuelan sanctions issues with American defence officials.
The Department of Public Information confirmed the radar project followed consultations with disability groups and civil society advocates and is a key plank of the administration’s broader national security modernisation strategy.
Government insiders warn the dispute could intensify as Tobago’s radar rollout intersects geopolitical pressure over crude oil sanctions, trafficking routes through the Caribbean, and domestic political trust.
