Minister Says Patrols Boats Will be Acquired

Earlier this week, Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Elton Bennett mentioned that two patrol boats slated for purchase in 2024 hadn’t been acquired yet. Today, Minister of Defense and Border Security Florencio Marin, Junior explained to reporters that there was a funding glitch but assured that the boats will still be bought.

 

Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of Defense & Border Security

“There was some complication with the CABEI cabay loans, and there was a deadline that we had to meet. And then, with the vessel of this magnitude, we had to take it through an international tendering process that we were not going to be able to meet the deadline. Now, that doesn’t mean necessarily that we have cancelled our plans on that, alright, but I’m just telling you there have been some delays in the procurement process.”