Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
Associations representing various arms of the protective services are hoping that sufficient allocations will be given to the Ministry of National Security so they, in turn, can fulfill their duties to the best of their abilities.
Since 2015, T&T’s national security budget has progressively decreased from $10.8 billion for the 2015-2016 budget, to $5.227 billion for the 2020-2021 budget. Since 2021, the allocation for national security has continued to increase with $6.912 billion allocated for the 2023-2024 budget.
However, several associations representing the protective services have complained that while national security has received significant portions of the national budget in recent years, it has not been reflected in improved efficiencies or working conditions.
Earlier this year, several police officers in operational units complained that bulletproof vests assigned to them were expired and sometimes “recycled” from retired officers, as fresh body armour was unavailable. Concerns were also raised over the availability of stationery, office supplies, uniforms and even toiletries for officers in different divisions and units.
Responding to Guardian Media’s questions via WhatsApp yesterday, TTPS Social Welfare Association head, acting ASP Gideon Dickson, said sufficient resources should be given to police officers given the critical role they play and challenges they face. He noted that the safety and well-being of frontline officers should not be compromised.
“We recommend significant considerations be given to the police to ensure our citizens’ fundamental rights of safety and security are not compromised and our quality of life not be impacted negatively,” Dickson said.
“You must acknowledge that police cannot be viewed nor treated as the general public service, especially when we are experiencing a crime pandemic and there’s increasing demand on our officers almost daily.”
Dickson added that Government should keep their promise and deliver any intended resources to the TTPS, while calling for additional officers to be absorbed from the Special Reserve Police (SRP) unit. He also recommended that technology be introduced and used, while outstanding backpay and increments be paid to officers.
President of the Prison Officers Association, Gerard Gordon meanwhile said he and other officers did not have very high expectations for the budget, noting that the prison service has been fraught with various deficiencies and operational challenges.
Referring to an inadequate supply of uniforms and deteriorating infrastructure, Gordon also lamented that the service had the oldest fleet of vehicles out of all arms of the protective services and were given “second-hand” vehicles for use.
“We’re getting used vehicles from other sections that we have to be patching up, so it’s a ridiculous situation. There’s so much to say as it relates to those failings and I don’t know how to explain it, but it seems as if we don’t exist for the state and it continues to hamper our ability to truly deliver our mandate to the public,” Gordon said.
“So it would appear that where crime and criminality is concerned, we’re failing at the front and we’re failing at the back end by the lack of support from the state.”
Fire Officers Association president Keone Guy said like other arms of the protective services, the Fire Service has faced their fair share of difficulties in terms of limited resources.
In August, Guy raised concerns about insufficient equipment which could hamper the ability of officers to adequately respond to emergencies.
Yesterday, Guy said was “cautiously optimistic” that their needs would be prioritised, referring to the various problems they face.
“The Fire Service has not seen a proportionate benefit in critical areas such as the procurement of essential equipment, vehicle upgrades, and officer training and improved station conditions,” Guy said.
“Many of our fire stations continue to operate with ageing appliances and our officers with inadequate PPE, posing risks to both fire officers and the public.”
Guy added that 20 per cent of fire officers have also not yet received retroactive payments for outstanding wages between 2014 to 2019.