(Trinidad Express) The Office of the Prime Minister disclosed yesterday that China has agreed to deliver a Long Range Vessel to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, to increase maritime border security and fights arms and drug smuggling. The vessel will arrive in the shortest possible time, and follows a request of China’s Premier Li Keqiang by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who is currently on an official State visit to China.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said that in her discussions, Persad-Bissessar also sought assistance with the following:
1) Construction and design of six new Economic Zones in Trinidad and Tobago.
2) Development of a trans-shipment Port and Dry Dock in South Trinidad.
3) Early processing of a loan agreement with the China Exim Bank so these projects can be expedited.
4) Construction of two new hospitals.
5) Removal of asphalt from the Pitch Lake in greater capacities.
The Prime Minister thanked the Chinese for the scanner for the Port, and said her Government was interested in purchasing more.
