National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith said yesterday that he viewed a presentation of the light sport aircraft by Navi-Comm Avionics Ltd at the Office of the Prime Minister around the middle of last year.

"They (Navi-Comm Avionics) did a presentation with the light aircraft in the middle of last year in May or June," Griffith told the Express by phone.

He said managing director of Navi-Comm Avionics Eddie Dallsingh, as well as Daniel Condon and Dirk Barnes—who both later formed Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company—were also present.

Griffith said after the presentation, he felt it was a proposal that could be explored and he forwarded it to the Ministry of National Security and Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs.

Griffith said he had no idea there was a split between the businessmen leading Condon and Barnes to form their own company—Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company—which later obtained a $900,772 contract from the Police Service to provide the services of a light sport aircraft for security surveillance.

On Monday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the Cabinet had no knowledge about the project.

She said she had asked National Security Minister John Sandy to obtain a report on the controversial award of the contract.

Asked whether he had informed the Prime Minister that he viewed a presentation on the aircraft, Griffith said he did not.

"I get dozens of proposals each week. I am bombarded by requests from persons with all types of gadgets and anti-crime recommendations on a regular basis. I listen to them and I make recommendations. The Prime Minister has a country to run; I don't bother her with every request that is made," said Griffith.

He said if the attention of the Prime Minister is required, the proposals come before the National Security Council where she is chair.

"This has been a business venture that went sour and the Opposition is trying to capitalise on it," said Griffith.

He drew the comparison of Gibbs's decision to award the contract for the light aircraft to the PNM's decision to purchase a multi-million-dollar blimp without the input of the then Commissioner of Police. "What would you call the blimp? The police had no involvement in that process. This is something the Commissioner wanted, we are talking total chalk and cheese. They (the Opposition) should really look in the mirror, they seem to forget the Special Anti-Crime Unit, which was a bottomless pit," said Griffith.

Griffith said the Commissioner of Police has the power now to make decisions as to what equipment he requires in the crime fight. However, he said, only Gibbs can explain to the nation why he chose the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company over Navi-Comm Avionics Ltd. The Government, he said, had no involvement in the award of this contract.

He said he did not know the process by which the selection was made, but he added that it was not mandatory to have a tendering process for items of that cost under $1 million. —Anna Ramdass