(Trinidad Express) A Chinese company listed as posing a national security threat to the United States has been secretly awarded a TT$512 million contract to upgrade the National Operations Centre (NOC).
Sunday Express investigations have revealed that National Security Council (NSC) minute No 1005 categorised as “secret” was considered on March 13, 2014 by the NSC which is headed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar .
Fourteen days later on March 27, Persad-Bissesaar ratified the decision, clearing the way for the contract to be awarded to Huawei Technologies Ltd for the implementation of the Safe City System.
The NOC headquarters is located in a building situated on the compound behind the Knowsley Building in Port of Spain. Investigations have further revealed that to date the sum of TT$170 million has been paid to the company.
Temporary provisions have been set up at the Knowsley Building to accommodate staff while the works are being undertaken. Up to press time last Persad-Bissessar did not respond to questions sent by the Sunday Express on whether the award of the TT$512 million contract was made public and if she was made aware of the investigative report released by the US government in 2012 that listed Huawei Technologies Ltd and ZTE as posing a security risk and which alluded to potential cyber espionage.
The investigation was launched after Huawei Technologies Ltd in 2011 published an open letter to the US Government inviting an investigation into its corporate operations.
The US Government initiated the investigation and Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturers-Huawei Technologies Ltd and ZTE—were evaluated to determine the level of risk and threat both companies posed. An excerpt from the report by the US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence read: “The investigation concludes that the risks associated with Huawei’s and ZTE’s provision of equipment to US critical infrastructure could undermine core US national security interest.”
Emphasising the level of threat posed to the US, the committee in its recommendation stated: “US government systems, particularly sensitive systems, should not include Huawei or ZTE equipment, including component parts. Similarly, government contractors-particularly those working on contracts for sensitive US programmes —should exclude ZTE or Huawei equipment in their system.”
The report also warned private-sector entities in the US to consider the security risk associated with doing business with either ZTE or Huawei for equipment or services. The John Abbot led Australian government has also banned Huawei Technologies Ltd from providing any equipment to the nation’s broadband network following reports that Chinese intelligence services penetrated that country’s parliamentary network in 2011 accessing the e-mail system used by members of parliament, advisers, electorate staff and parliamentary employees.
The Chinese Government, however, has denied both claims.
Griffith: I never received US report
But while Persad-Bissessar has not yet responded to questions on the matter, former national security minister Gary Griffith told the Sunday Express that he never received a copy of the US report while in Government.
Griffith was the line minister at the time the contract was awarded to Huawei Technologies Ltd. He was also a member of the NSC.
Asked on May 7 if he was aware of the US report that blacklisted Huawei Technologies Ltd because of a potential security threat, Griffith said: “I never saw nor was given a copy of that report.”
Sunday Express investigations have also revealed that a request for a downpayment for commencement of the works was made via an invoice dated October 29, 2014 that was sent from NOC executive director Garvin Heerah to former permanent secretary and Public Service head in the Office of the Prime Minister, Reynold Cooper.
The invoice, categorised as “secret” and obtained by Sunday Express, read: “Further to reference above and our subsequent conversation on October 29, 2014 please find attached a copy of the NSC minute which approved the funding for the NOC construction project estimated at $512 million.”
Huawei: Cyber security a global challenge
Huawei Technologies Ltd has refused to say whether the company informed the Ministry of National Security of the US report before being awarded the contract.
Asked by Sunday Express on Friday if the US Report laid in the House of Representatives that listed Huawei Technologies Ltd as posing a security threat to the nation was made known to the Ministry of National Security, the company’s public affairs and communication manager Zhang Linbo via e-mail said: “As a world leading ICT solutions provider, Huawei provides secure, innovative and high-quality products and services to global customers in over 170 countries. Huawei shares everyone’s concern regarding cyber security. We are addressing these global challenges together with customers, governments and other stakeholders in an open and collaborative manner. Huawei adopts one of the best practices and has an excellent track record in cyber security.”
