JUST two days after the state of emergency was declared on July 18and ten high-risk prisoners relocated to Teteron Barracks and Staubles Bay, Chaguaramasa Defence Force soldier opened fire on a Coast Guard vessel patrolling Teteron Bay.
The Coast Guard vessel was part of beefed-up security mea�sures for the detainees.
According to information obtained by the Sunday Express from multiple intelligence sour�ces familiar with the incident, the shooting took place on July 20, approximately 7.48 p.m.
The Coast Guard vessel, a PAC24 RHIB, a rigid inflatable boat that can carry a crew of at least four, was patrolling Teteron Bay as an added security measure for the prisoners housed there when they were fired upon by a soldier on land.
The report that logged the incident indicated all the lights were on in the Coast Guard vessel, including the blue strobe light used by law enforcement. When spoken to, the soldier confirmed the Defence Force was aware of the Coast Guard patrols.
Luckily, no one was hurt, and the vessel did not sustain any damage, a senior intelligence source said.
Another source told the Sunday Express that both Chief of Defence Staff Darryl Daniel and Commanding Officer for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard Captain Steve Don Riguel Polo did have a conversation about the incident.
Since the incident happened, both of these men have communicated, but there has been no formal investigation launched into the matter at this time, another intelligence source said.
Additionally, no disciplinary action has been brought against the regiment member who exercised brazen negligence when he released friendly fire upon the Coast Guard vessel that was on the scene, added the source.
The Sunday Express submitted questions to both Daniel and Captain Polo via WhatsApp last Thursday and Friday, enquiring whether an investigation had been launched into the incident and if either of them, after speaking, had made any recommendations on how to treat the matter and whether any disciplinary charges would be brought against the soldier for his alleged negligence.
Additionally, the Sunday Express asked Captain Polo if statements had been taken from the Coast Guard officers who had been shot at.
Neither official responded up to last night.
