(Trinidad Express) Acting Commissioner of Police Jack Ewatski yesterday said when he went flying with Daniel Condon, one of the directors of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company, it was for pleasure, not business.
Ewatski is acting for Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, who is in the United Kingdom, attending a law enforcement course with his deputy, Stephen Williams.
The Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company was awarded a contract on December 29, 2011, for TT$900,772 to provide a light sport aircraft for security surveillance as a pilot project for 720 hours over a three-month period.
The content of e-mails between Condon, his business partner, Dirk Barnes (managing director of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company), and Eddie Dallsingh, managing director of Navi-Comm Avionics Ltd, was revealed by Opposition MP Donna Cox at the Parliament sitting last Friday.
On June 5, 2011, Condon e-mailed Barnes, informing him that he made contact with Ewatski.
“…Made contact with Ewatski — he wants to go flying w/ me. I think we can seal the deal w/ the TTPS (Trinidad and Tobago Police Service),” Condon stated in his e-mail.
While the e-mails show that Condon and Barnes were discussing business with the police, Ewatski says he paid Condon for the flight.
In a statement released by the TTPS yesterday, Ewatski said: “Regarding statements made about my participating in a “test flight” of the company’s aircraft, the facts are that I am a holder of a Canadian aviation private pilot’s licence and have been for 12 years.
“Flying has been a hobby of mine and my intention was to pursue this hobby while living in Trinidad and Tobago.
“In order to meet currency requirements, on June 12, 2011, I completed a check flight with a certified flight instructor, Mr Dan Condon, at my personal expense, using a privately owned aircraft which Mr Condon had authority to use.
“This Cessna single-engine aircraft is apparently owned by Mr Eddie Dallsingh, an individual I have never met,” he added.
“On July 3, 2011, I again flew in the same aircraft with Mr Condon to further hone my skills. At that time, Mr Condon was not a director of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company,” he continued.
“This interaction with Mr Condon was solely for the above stated purpose, and was in no way connected to any actions or decisions regarding the subsequent service provision agreement,” stated Ewatski.
He added that any assumptions or suggestions that his interaction with Condon influenced decisions made by the TTPS in this matter were completely misguided.
Ewatski went flying with Condon on June 12 and July 3 and, 11 days later, on July 14, Condon was named director of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company.
Within five months, the company secured the contract from Gibbs.
Before the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company was formed, Dallsingh’s company—Navi Comm Avionics Ltd—had made the same proposal to Gibbs, but the Police Commissioner advised Dallsingh to forward the proposal to the Permanent Secretary.
Dallsingh claims he was double-crossed by those with whom he had shared the project and has written to the Police Service Commission (PSC), requesting a probe into the contract.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has also written to the PSC, calling for an investigation.
Ewatski, in his statement, explained that the decision to contract Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company was part of the 21st century Policing Transformation Initiative. He said the police Air Support Unit (ASU), using former SAUTT helicopters, was successful in the crime fight, as their rapid response had resulted in the apprehension of 178 suspects and the seizure of firearms, ammunition and narcotics.
Ewatski said the ASU also gave the ability to provide ground resources with considerable situational awareness, which proved extremely valuable during many police operations.
He further explained that the operational cost of helicopters was significant and research was conducted into other forms of aerial support.
This research, he said, included contact with the International Law Enforcement Aviation Association as well as both local and foreign aviation experts.
The use of the light sport aircraft by law enforcement agencies was discovered during research.
Ewatski noted the effectiveness and efficiency, and low maintenance and operational cost, of the light sport aircraft.
