Who defied Defence Minister Wayne Sturge and authorised Lieutenant Commander Daniel Castagne’s travel to the United States to participate in a one-year naval study course?
Approval was apparently given even though Sturge, through the Ministry of Homeland Security, refused to give the green light for Lt Cmdr Castagne to attend the course.
According to several insiders, the move has raised alarm over whether senior military personnel openly defied ministerial authority.
Another unanswered question is who financed Castagne’s one-year programme at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, that covered accommodation, tuition and personal expenses—that, according to insiders, could have cost taxpayers as much as $600,000.
Insiders say even if the United States sponsored the course valued at roughly $350,000, it would still cost taxpayers his subsistence for the year, travel and accommodation expenses, as well as incidentals.
No approval on record
An internal document obtained by the Sunday Express shows the Ministry of National Security’s Defence Unit General Administration responded to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel on June 25, 2025, regarding his December 10, 2024, request for Castagne to attend the course abroad.
The letter advised “the Minister of Defence did not grant approval for the participation of Lieutenant Commander Daniel Castagne of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force in the Naval Staff College course, scheduled to be held in Newport, Rhode Island, United States of America, over the period July 17, 2025-June 15, 2026”.
Made request:
Chief of Defence Staff Darryl Daniel.
The letter was signed off by an employee for the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Homeland Security.
Five days later, on June 30, 2025, Castagne’s senior—Commanding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) Captain Steve Don Riguel Polo—was informed of the decision to deny Castagne participation in the course via letter by Lieutenant Eden Pope, acting Assistant Chief Staff Officer, Human Resource.
That letter stated, “Further to the subject at caption, please be advised that the Honourable Minister of Defence did not grant approval for Lieutenant Commander Daniel Castagne to participate in the Naval Staff College Course, which was scheduled to be held in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, over the period of July 17, 2025, to June 15, 2026. Submitted for your information and consideration, sir.”
On the day that Captain Polo was informed of the denial by letter, senior TTDF sources told the Sunday Express Polo called Castagne to his office and informed him of the decision handed down by the Ministry of National Security.
But despite the denial of approval for the course, several senior insiders in the TTDF confirmed Castagne proceeded on the course in mid-July, “raising several eyebrows”.
Sources told the Sunday Express that after authorisation for the course was denied, the CDS contacted Minister Sturge, asking him to reverse his decision on the matter.
Unanswered questions
Last week, questions were sent by the Sunday Express to Sturge, asking whether the ministry had reversed its initial denial of the CDS’ request and, if so, whether a Cabinet Note had been submitted to secure the requisite approval.
Minister Sturge did not respond.
The Sunday Express also sent several questions via WhatsApp to CDS Daniel about the denial letters, asking who gave the green light for Castagne’s trip.
This newspaper also enquired whether there had been any subsequent correspondence from the Ministry of National Security reversing its earlier decision, and if not, under whose authority the study trip was approved.
The Sunday Express also asked CDS Daniel if he had personally sanctioned the trip verbally—or if Lt Cmdr Castagne had funded the programme himself.
Again, there was no response from CDS Daniel on the matter.
There was similar silence by the Commanding Officer of the TTCG, Capt Polo, when he was also sent questions on a daily basis last week via WhatsApp about the matter.
Captain Polo was asked if Castagne possibly funded this study course after the ministry denied approval.
The Sunday Express repeatedly attempted to contact Lt Cmdr Castagne by phone after obtaining his number, but got no answer.
Over the last week, WhatsApp messages were also sent daily to him, asking who approved his study leave for the US course, who was covering the cost of his studies and stay abroad, and whether the trip was financed by the Trinidad and Tobago Government or by himself.
Despite reading the messages, as evidenced by blue ticks within the app, he failed to respond.