OPPOSITION MP Donna Cox has questioned a $900,000 contract between the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and a local company for air support services three months after e-mail exchanges between Deputy Commissioner of Police Jack Ewatski with the company's directors.

She claimed the aircraft could be purchased seven times over for what was being spent for a 12-week test period.

Cox was speaking in the Lower House sitting yesterday, held at International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, on a motion she had brought calling on Government to cease its "systematic dismantling" of the national security systems and structures and to implement an effective national security system that could secure this country's borders to reduce crime.

She read from a letter of intent between Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs, "the million dollar man" (referring to his salary), and Dirk Barnes, managing director of Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company located in Tacarigua, about the company supplying its "Sky View Surveillance Support" as a "law enforcement aviation pilot project".

Gibbs stated that the project appeared to have a "high rate of success" and he approved a 12-week pilot project proposal.

The contract was for 720 hours use of Zenith CH 750 Air Scout Aircraft for a three-month evaluation period at a cost of TT$902,772 or US$140,400. The letter requested the company reply in writing regarding acceptance of the terms in the letter.

"I can't remember seeing a tender for aircraft surveillance. When was this put out for tender? I ask the Minister (of National Security) when did this go out for tender? Talk to (Gibbs) and tell us," Cox said.

She said the Zenith has been described a "light spot aircraft" and its weight constraints would affect the range of its surveillance. She described the aircraft as "dolly house" and commented "what a wastage of taxpayers' money".

She said while Government had complained that the Skyship 600, or "Blimp", was too expensive, a sum of US$140,400 was being spent on a mere 12-week contract. Cox pointed out that the type of aircraft could be purchased on the Internet and assembled, and bought seven times over what was paid for the contract.

"That's a LEGO plane," quipped Diego Martin Central MP Dr Amery Browne.

Cox questioned what role Ewatski played in the proposal and questioned whether he had been "fraternising" with the director of the company in July that year. She read from e-mails between two Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company directors Dan Condon and Eddie Dalsingh between June and July 2011.

"Made contact with Ewatski. He wants to go flying with me. I think this can seal the deal with the TTPS," she read.

Another e-mail stated: "Jack and I flew in (early) June."

"You see why they got rid of the airship? You understand why they had to discard the airship for a deal which smacks of corruption. Tell the public the truth," she said.

Cox said she also had a contract letter with the signatures of Gibbs and Barnes. She took a shot at Gibbs during her contribution, saying the Opposition's difficulty with the Commissioner of Police "is the extent to which he bends over backwards to accommodate the UNC government thus politicising the police function".

Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert described the aircraft contract as "scandalous", and said the single- or two-seater aircraft was ill suited for surveillance because it could not stop and hover due to its noisy combustion system. He said that despite Skyship 600 reducing kidnappings from 100 to five, it was sold by this Government and was being replaced by this "toy plane".

He noted that Gibbs in the letter of intent stated the aircraft surveillance could be integrated into the 21st Century Policing Initiative but was more something out of US airplane pioneers the Wright Brothers in the 1900s.

National Security Minister Brig John Sandy commented on the matter of the aircraft very briefly during his 42-minute response to the motion, questioning whether it was legal for Cox to be quoting from private e-mails.

He said that the Airship 600 was too expensive to maintain and had to be sold, though it was difficult as only the original manufacturers wished to purchase it.