FORMER head of the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force Capt Neal Alexis has called for members of the organisation who served during the attempted coup to be rewarded with medals like their colleagues in the Regiment.

Alexis made the statement yesterday as he took the witness stand at the commission of enquiry into the 1990 attempted coup. He was led into evidence by Jagdeo Singh, one of the attorneys for the commission of enquiry.

Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force who served during the 1990 attempted coup were awarded with medals, Alexis said. He is now calling for members of the Cadet Force who also served to be properly recognised.

Cadets served at Camp Ogden during the attempted coup, and some were asked to hold on at the army base for as long as three months, Alexis said.

Basic security was provided by cadets at the hangar in Chaguaramas, Alexis said.

The main entry and exit points at Tobago, the ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point and the Port at Scarborough were secured by cadets, he said, and they were given a short course in the use of weapons by officers of the Regiment.

Alexis said all the Defence Force personnel who testified at the commission of enquiry, with the exception of Gary Griffith, were once cadets.

Griffith is the national security adviser for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Alexis said cadets are not covered by insurance, and "thank God no cadet lost his life" in the line of duty.

The enquiry continues on Monday at Courtroom Two of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Henry Street, Port of Spain.