The Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago disclosed 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. This follows a request of China’s Premier Li Keqiang by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar during a visit to China.

“This is really good news,” Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said she convinced Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, that the T&T Coast Guard needed two vessels to lock down this country’s borders in light of the increase in arms and narco trafficking.

Both the Governments of China and Trinidad and Tobago will sit down and deal with the financing aspect of the purchase.

While in China, Mrs Persad-Bissessar also sought assistance with the following: – Construction and design of six new Economic Zones in Trinidad and Tobago – Development of a trans-shipment Port and Dry Dock in South Trinidad – Early processing of a loan agreement with the China Exim Bank so these projects can be expedited – Construction of two new hospitals – Removal of asphalt from the Pitch Lake in greater capacities.