What Imbert said:
Crime: "Our first priority is to establish an optimal security apparatus, the broad elements of which the previous PNM administration had put in place to bolster the nation's external and internal defences. A review of the systems, equipment and processes in place is now underway."
As the fiscal year comes to an end on Friday, the People's National Movement (PNM) Government, led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, is expected to deliver its second National Budget in the Parliament. The Sunday Guardian looks at the Ministries of National Security and Health and the plans that were announced in the last fiscal year and how successful they were in the delivery of those plans. The Ministry of National Security was given the largest allocation of $10.81 billion while the Health Ministry received the third highest of $6.088 billion.
The budget presentation will be delivered by Finance Minister Colm Imbert. As the economic climate remains stagnant for the PNM adminstration, the population eagerly awaits government's plans to increase revenue and to learn how monies will be expended on critical areas such as crime, health, education and investments. The fiscal package allocates money to run the affairs of the economy from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017.
Efforts to contact Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon all of last week, via calls to his mobile, proved futile.
Police Welfare Association:
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Insp Micheal Seales, said a priority for the association is to see the appointment of a Commissioner of Police.
He said in the last year, there were discussions about the establishment of the Police Management Authority, the Police Inspectorate and the local constabulary.
"To date, the association is a bit concerned that those talks would have progressed to some measure but we are a bit bewildered as to when most of these ideas will flesh out," he said.
He said the plans were to be done in conjuction with a manpower audit of the Police Service.
Seales said, "The association is very concerned about the performance of the TTPS and more importantly the management of performance. We have held the view that these things are instrumental in turning the Police Service around and driving it to successful performance.
In the next fiscal year, the association is hoping to see the following:
1. Appointment of a CoP and his deputies;
2. Manpower performance audit of TTPS;
3. Settlement of outstanding arrears for officers; and
4. Introduction of the $1 million for families of officers slain in the line of duty.
Former PSC head:
Former head of the Police Service Commission, Professor Ramesh Deosaran, said it was well known that the last three governments in particular had not done well in reducing crime in sustainable ways.
He said, "Spikes up and down, here and there, are not the answer. We now look forward not only to expenditure quantities but to strategic systems, more professionally than politically driven, and well designed operational targets with fuller accountability.
"The lump sum monies given to both National Security and Education should be more precisely targeted for such accountability."
He said education and crime were intrinsically connected with up or down movements and it was high time that people recognised money was not all, but it was how it was used and accounted for.
"This is ever more urgent given the financial challenges all around."
National Security $10.81b
1. Establish Joint Border Patrol Agency to manage the security and integrity of our open and vulnerable borders.
2. Establish a Police Management Agency with a mandate to develop the necessary leadership expertise, skills and professionalism.
3. Introduce early legislation to amend the present procedures for the appointment of a Police Commissioner and his deputies.
4. Partnership with regional corporations and Police Service to combat crime.
5. Establish Police Service Inspectorate.
6. Strengthen prison management.
7. Re-engineer justice system.
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