Port-of-Spain: The Opposition is questioning the Government's spending on a light aircraft for tests to determine whether it can replace the functions of the blimp which has been put out of service as a national security mechanism.
Former Minister in the Ministry of National Security and Member of Parliament for Laventille East Morvant Donna Cox revealed in the Parliament today that the government is spending seven times the cost of purchasing the aircraft, simply to test fly it over a 12 week period.
The proposed aircraft is a Zenith CH-750 Air Scout aircraft, so small it is actually sold in parts and can be bought on the internet for US$19,480.
Cox disclosed that the government is actually spending US$140,000 simply to test the aircraft over a 12-week period.
She also raised the issue of the weight of the aircraft saying that it's so light sophisticated equipment cannot be accomodated in it.
MP Cox pointed to several emails between the directors of the company outlining requests from Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Ewatski to be allowed flights in the aircraft.
Diego Martin North MP Colm Imbert insisted that the blimp was equiped with high-tech audio that would have been able to pick up cell-phone conversations between criminals which he says was responsible for the reduction in kidnapping.
He says the government has provided no alternative to the blimp in this regard.
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