Three political parties—the People’s National Movement (PNM), the Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) and the Class Action Reform Movement (CARM)—joined forces yesterday in a rare show of unity as they demanded the removal of the military radar system recently installed at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago.
Leaders of the parties gathered at James Park, where they addressed supporters and voiced concerns about what they described as a lack of transparency surrounding the installation.
IDA political leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus called on Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to apologise to Tobagonians for failing to provide details on the radar project.
“Today we call on the Chief Secretary to apologise to the people of Tobago for being silent on the issue,” she said. “We call on the Chief Secretary to address the issue with his leaders in Trinidad—who he said are his friends—that the people of Tobago do not want that piece of equipment here. It needs to be removed.”
The rally underscored growing public and political pushback to the radar’s presence on the island, with critics questioning both its purpose and the level of consultation prior to installation.
Investigations and discussions on the matter are ongoing.
