National Security Minister Jack Warner yesterday presented a report to the National Security Council on the status of the New Flying Squad Investigation Unit.

Up to press time, the meeting was still taking place having been delayed because of a long Cabinet session.

The report, the Express understands, contained an explanation by Garvin Heerah, director of the National Security Operations Centre (NSOC) on his involvement on the issue.

Heerah, the Express was told, said he met with Cordner when he visited the Ministry of National Security. 

At the time, Heerah was Warner's strategic adviser. He was appointed NSOC director in November 2012.

Heerah, the Express was told, said Cordner had a proposal to fight crime with the revived unit and was interested in getting the ministry on board. 

The Express understands Heerah recommended a car-rental agency to Cordner after he insisted his men were working and gathering information.

The rental agency was one previously used by the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago and the vehicles were not in use at the moment. Subsequently, it was Cordner and not Heerah (according to his explanation) that engaged the agency to lease eight cars without payment under the premise that the company would be reimbursed when the unit was operational.

Heerah said he had told Cordner the unit could not proceed because it did not have the blessings of the acting Commissioner of Police.

Several attempts to get Heerah or Warner for comment proved futile late last night.

The National Security Council is chaired by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesar. Last week, after she had returned from a Caricom meeting in Haiti, she had requested a report from Warner on the NFSIU.

Cordner insists the unit was operational for six months while Warner has consistently denied such claims.