An overall allocation of $143.3 million will be provided in fiscal year 2023 to assist the T&T Police Service in implementing its programme of works and out of that, $88.7 million will be allocated for critical infrastructural works, including roof repairs, electrical upgrades, plumbing improvements, information technology upgrades and expansion of facilities.
The TTPS will also receive an allocation of $54.6 million under the Infrastructure Development Fund for the construction of police stations, payment of design fees for two projects and implementation of five other major capital projects.
The specifics of Monday’s budget presentation by Finance Minister Colm Imbert were detailed in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) budget document.
Some of the projects carded for the TTPS include: improvement works to police stations and buildings such as the La Horquetta, Four Roads, Point Fortin Morvant and Siparia Police Stations; establishment of facilities for divisional command centres – upgrade works at the Siparia Divisional Command Centre of the South Western Division and the Sangre Grande Divisional Command Centre of the Eastern Division; development works at the Police Academy; refurbishments works to the Mounted and Canine Branch (New)–refurbishment works will be undertaken at two branches: Chaguaramas and Caroni– refurbishment of the K9 facilities and a request for proposal is to be developed for the drainage system at the Caroni Police Station; development works at the St. Madeleine Police Station (New) – construction of a two-storey building to accommodate the operational and administrative needs of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region Three and the Fraud Squad, South.
An allocation of $15 million will be invested to procure equipment for the TTPS, including: ICT system for mobile assets, mobile devices tracking systems, remote communication systems, surveillance systems and body camera systems.
An allocation of $20 million will be provided for the procurement of sport utility vehicles, sedans, long wheelbase 4x4 vehicles, 30-seater buses, tractors and bomb disposal trucks.
Also, according to the PSIP, the programme for the construction of new police stations - the Manzanilla and the Matura Police Stations - will go ahead, where an amount of $4 million will be provided for the engineering designs and scope of works with equal distribution respectively for both projects.
The Manzanilla and the Matura Police Stations will also undergo refurbishment and upgrade works.
The PSIP said a land use planning firm was engaged in 2021 to develop a conceptual/land use plan, proposed design engineering drawings and cost estimates for all of the works required for the Police Academy.
It said the development works are to be implemented on a phased basis. There are currently limited dormitory facilities which restrict the ability to meet the target for recruit intake. As such, phase one of the project will utilise an allocation of $8.4 million to commence works on the establishment of new dormitories for 300 recruits and 60 instructors. Phase two works will entail the construction of a multi-storey car park for 200 vehicles.
With the existing air-condition systems at the Brasso, Arima, Piarco, Oropouche, Maloney, Cumuto, La Brea and Moruga Police Stations being dysfunctional and unable to adequately cool the facilities, the TTPS will undertake the replacement of the units at a cost of $47 million subject to the approval of Cabinet.
With respect to the establishment of a Coastal and Riverine Patrol Unit, the construction of a jetty and a building for vessel maintenance to house the Coastal and Riverine Patrol Unit at the Carenage Police Station – a provision of $8 million will be allocated.
The TTPS Administration Support Centre is also to be relocated to facilitate the development of a multi-storey car park on Edward and St. Vincent Streets, in Port of Spain.
For the Administration Support Centre, which currently houses the Information Technology Department, Court and Process Department and Crime Scene Investigations and the Administrative Office of the ACP Criminal Division - $10m will be provided for its relocation to Trinidad House.