New high-tech equipment and training funded by the United Kingdom will make the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces’ (SPDF) Twin Otter plane much more effective in the anti-piracy drive.

This was announced yesterday at the SPDF Air Wing’s base, Pointe Larue, by British high commissioner Matthew Forbes, who said about $1 million has been provided to buy equipment, including a new optical turrret that will boost surveillance and detection capability.

Also present were ministers for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam and for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport Joel Morgan.

SPDF personnel will also be better protected, as the quality of the new turret will mean the aircraft can keep a safe distance from suspected pirates and out of range of small arms fire.

The Twin Otter is also to be equipped with long-range fuel tanks to enable it to stay over surveillance targets longer – as much as three extra hours. An airborne sensor operator console will enable detection of pirate activity, while a communications system will ensure critical information can be transmitted to naval units.

Announcing the funding, Mr Forbes said: “This is a substantial contribution made by the British High Commission on behalf of the UK government and signals our commitment to supporting Seychelles in overcoming the piracy threat.

“The UK government has, in the face of the rising threat of piracy, worked with Seychelles, and as part of EU-Navfor and Nato, to help drive the anti-piracy agenda and will continue to do so, as the safety of our seas affects us all.”

Ministers Adam and Morgan welcomed the fact that Seychelles’ determined effort to fight the scourge of piracy is being recognised internationally.

Mr Adam thanked the British government for the military hardware, which will boost our surveillance efforts. He stressed the importance of increased air capacity and cover to improve coordination among all units in the anti-piracy battle.

He said there are strong indications that the scourge is being effectively dealt with, adding: “We cannot continue going around in circles.”

Mr Morgan noted the recent gift of the Dornier surveillance plane from India, last year’s gift of a patrol boat from the UK and other patrol boats from the United Arab Emirates.

He said the government is talking to other partners in a bid to boost our resources in the fight against piracy and noted there are signs that pirate activity in Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone has been on the decrease recently.

“But this does not mean we should become complacent,” he said.

Chris Holtby of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who is chairman of the Contact Group on Piracy’s working group on operational coordination and regional capability development, said: “The contact group is taking active steps, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to develop alternative prosecution and imprisonment options to ensure the burden carried by Seychelles is shared, including through support for prison building in Somalia.”

This will in due course mean that pirates convicted in Seychelles and elsewhere can be sent back to Somalia to serve their sentences.

At the moment, 946 pirates are either convicted or awaiting trial in some 18 countries. 

 

Forrás: www.nation.sc