The Ministry of Defence says an investigation has been launched to determine how drone footage was obtained of the restricted area near the ANR Robinson International Airport, where the United States-installed military radar is located.
In a media release Defence Minister Wayne Sturge said the desire to obtain footage of military installations and equipment and to disseminate it to media houses is “inimical to national security interests” and “exposes the citizenry to those who would benefit from the use of such information to our detriment.”
Sturge said despite claims that the drone operated outside the 5 kilometer “no fly” zone from the Tobago airport, his ministry has intelligence that says otherwise.
The Defence Minister who has been unreachable about the purpose of the radar and who has custody of the data, despite the Prime Minister deferring all technical questions to him said, “The Ministry of Defence wishes to highlight the reckless endangerment created by drone operators from the obvious and inherent danger posed to both incoming and outgoing commercial aircraft during such drone operations with the real possibility of collisions which can potentially lead to loss of life on a massive scale.”
He added, “The Ministry of Defence wishes to assure the law-abiding public that investigations are afoot to determine the identity of the claimed “anonymous source” who conducted the subject drone surveillance in violation of the law, with a view to preventing such further actions, thereby protecting the public interest from any further undermining of our security and to ensure the safety of all airline passengers.”
Sturge said his ministry has also noted drone activity close to the Piarco International Airport.
The minister said, “The Ministry of Defence also wishes to remind those operators who wish to continue in defiance of the law, that the State will take the necessary actions to protect the public interest should it become necessary, including those afforded under the current State of Emergency.”
