The Strategic Services Agency (SSA) was expected to buy new equipment in 2014 to improve the confidentiality of information developed, gathered and analysed by it for intelligence purposes.
This is according to the 2013 report of the director of the SSA, which was laid in the Senate yesterday.
According to the report, the Focus Data Enhancement project was undertaken to upgrade the interception of communications capability. It was expected to cost US$521,440.
The report stated that project “was necessary to support effectively the SSA function as outlined in the Interception of Communication Act
It said the Theseus Coverage project upgraded the interception of communications capability to fulfill the SSA’s responsibilities under the Act.
That project, the report added, cost US $900,000 and addressed the gaps in the Theseus project, aligning the SSA’s capability with network enhancements implemented by the telecommunication providers.
The report also said the Network Security Enhancement Project was being undertaken at a cost of TT$390,216.00 and was being done with a view to improve the confidentiality of information developed, gathered and analysed by the agency for intelligence purposes.
The director in his report said administrative and operational challenges which began in 2011 when personnel from the SIA and the intelligence component of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT) were integrated into the SSA continued into 2013.
He said: “Despite these internal challenges, the SSA delivered on its mandate and met the growing needs of its major stakeholders.”
The report further stated that during the period of reporting “the SSA also provided an unprecedented level of technical expertise to various partner agencies nationally.”
Agencies which benefitted, the report said, included the National Drug Council (NDC), the National Operations Centre (NOC), the Criminal Gangs Intelligence Unit (CGIU), the Police Service, the National Security Training Academy, the Ministry of National Security and the Regional Security Co-ordination Centre (RSCC) at the Office of the Prime Minister.
The report said the SSA also continued to assist the Police and Prisons Services in cyber investigations.
According to the document, the SSA also provided much needed intelligence to support ongoing criminal investigations. It did not elaborate.