Controversy widens over light aircraft for crime-fighting

Piarco: More controversy surrounding the award of a contract between the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company and the Police for the supply of a light aircraft in the crime-fighting arsenal, a company known as Navi-Comm Avionics Limited is calling for an enquiry to be launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract, claiming that it did all the ground work and were chosen to execute the agreement.

Navi-Comm says that since 2002, the company has been the leading advocate for such light sport aircraft for aerial surveillance and support purposes in the fight against crime.

The comapny says it did several presentations dating baci since 2003 and also made further presentations to the Coast Guard and Air Guard with the latests presentation being made on June 15th 2010 to the Prime Minister's National Security Advisor Gary Griffith and Minister in the Ministry of National Security Colin Partap.

The company says that the Trinidad and Tobago Air Services Limited has no proven track record in this industry and is questioning why the police entered into a contract with the TTAS to supply and maintain the aircraft.

Navi-Comm Avionics says that by letter dated January 28th, 2012, it protested the circumstances surrounding the execution of this contract but that to date the Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs has not responded.

The company is now calling for an enquiry to be launched into the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract.