Royal Navy Flotilla Withdrawn to Cut Costs, Weeks Before Haiti Disaster; First Gap in Cover in Caribbean Since 17th Century
January 21st, 2010See: PENTAGON DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE FOR HAITI WENT LIVE AFTER EARTHQUAKE HIT
Via: Times Online:
A Royal Navy flotilla that might have provided relief in the first hours after the Haitian earthquake was withdrawn weeks before the disaster because of budget constraints, the Ministry of Defence said last night.
Naval sources told The Times that the unpublicised cut marked the first time that the Royal Navy has had a significant gap in cover in the Caribbean since the 17th century.
The force, which usually includes a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel and a frigate, is deployed in Caribbean waters to provide support to British overseas territories, particularly during the May-December hurricane season, and to support Britain’s counter-narcotics role in the region.
During the summer, Prince William was deployed on board the frigate Iron Duke in the Caribbean.
However, the fleet replenishment ship Fort George was ordered back to Britain in October and the Iron Duke arrived back last month.
Neither was replaced, though the Navy has previously maintained a rolling deployment of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels in the region to provide disaster relief. When Fort George arrived in the Caribbean in June it was as a replacement to HMS Largs Bay, which had provided cover in the region since the end of the previous hurricane season in November 2008.
Perhaps a new category here may be called for: ‘Coincidence Of Coincidences’.
“Coincidence” and “incompetence”, the two greatest lie-factories ever invented. And as you’d expect, our industrialist overlords know exactly how to keep them running at full capacity, 24/7.
Chavez just openly said the earthquake was a US weapon. This is a bit like those Israeli companies moving out of the twin towers a few weeks before 9/11. Nothing to see here!