Young: I misled no one over Coast Guard boat repairs

National Security Minister Stuart Young on Thursday accused the opposition and a media house of trying to mislead the public by suggesting he was misinformed on the facts surrounding the arrival of engineers to begin repairs on Coast Guard vessels.

On Thursday it was reported that engineers from Damen Shipyward have been in Trinidad since October. The report said this was contrary to Young's statement that they were afraid to come to TT because of covid19.

The presence of the engineers was confirmed by the Nerherlands Ambassador Raphaël Varga van Kibéd.

In a media release on Thursday, Young dismissed the report and insisted the serviceability of the vessels was affected by the pandemic. He also asserted that the company had not shipped the parts necessary for the repairs.

"The arrival of one engineer in October who was replaced by another in November is not, and was not, sufficient to carry out the necessary maintenance and works to the Damen vessels.

"Damen has not shipped the parts for the Coast Guard vessels that are necessary for their repair and maintenance. This too has negatively affected the serviceability of the vessels; and there are engineers who are required to perform specific works on the vessels who have not come to TT because of covid19.

"These are the irrefutable facts."

So, he said, he rejected "the suggestions by the Express newspaper and the UNC opposition that I have misled the Parliament," insisting, "that is something that I would never intentionally do."

In Parliament last Friday Young said engineers from Damen were reluctant to come to TT owing to concern about covid19 and promised to meet with the Netherlands ambassador this week to discuss the situation.