National Security Minister Jack Warner says Government will welcome any assistance or equipment from the Chinese government in the war against crime. He was speaking in an interview after the handing-over ceremony of medical equipment donated by the People's Republic of China to the T&T Defence Force at the Ulric Cross Air Station, Golden Grove Road, Piarco yesterday.
Also present at the event were Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Collin Partap, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Kenrick Maharaj, and Chinese Ambassador to T&T, Yang Youming. "If the Chinese offer us equipment to patrol our waters, we shall take them, wherever they come from so as to make our borders less porous," Warner said. "The Chinese have been helping the Defence Force as early as 1999 when they gave the first supply of equipment at a cost of $1.5 million," said Warner.
"From 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007 the Chinese have been bringing equipment and assistance to the Defence Force on a regular basis and today's donation of $13 million in equipment is part of that continued good relationship between the Republic of China and this government, country and moreso the Defence Force." He also promised that the persons responsible for the murder of Chinese nationals, Yang Jian Hua and his wife Wu Xiu Hua, in Cunupia, will be caught though it may take a "long time."
Warner said the investigation was too sensitive to disclose, however the police had given him the assurance that the culprits will be apprehended. He said he met with Youming who was very concerned about the matter. Youming said, "We've been in touch with the Ministry of National Security about the issue. We've expressed our concerns about the Chinese community here and the minister has demonstrated that they're very concerned and they will take all the necessary measures to have justice done."
When asked if he knew about any reports of Chinese nationals leaving the country, Youming said the family of the murdered couple will be taking the cremated remains of their parents back to China but at this point he did not know whether they would be returning.