00:00 The startling number of gun-related murders for the year, with the murder count now at
00:05 450, has propelled government into action according to Finance Minister Colm Imbert
00:10 as they attempt to lock off the pipeline of illicit guns and drugs finding their way into
00:14 this country.
00:15 "We have awarded a contract at an estimated cost of $90 million, to show how important
00:23 we see this, for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of four large-scale, non-intrusive
00:33 inspection scanners for shipping containers which we will deploy at the ports of Port
00:38 of Spain and Point Lisa.
00:41 These scanners will be operational in 2024."
00:45 Minister Imbert said 16 hand-held scanners would also be made available to the Customs
00:49 and Excise Division to review operations at transit sheds across the country where illegal
00:55 guns and drugs have also been an issue.
00:58 Minister Imbert said he was grateful to US Ambassador Candace Bond's donation of four
01:02 vessels to help this country patrol areas in and around Trinidad in order to fight the
01:07 contraband trade from neighboring South America.
01:10 He said crime and violence have troubled the citizens of this country, and as a possible
01:14 solution to easing their anxiety and restoring their confidence in the police, the government
01:19 would be sanctioning the recruitment of three times the police officers that the TTPS is
01:24 usually allowed to take in on a yearly basis come 2024.
01:28 "Further, the total number of active police officers is constantly affected by mandatory
01:36 retirement or resignation of officers from the service, among a number of officers on
01:42 vacation or other forms of leave.
01:45 Accordingly, to bring the police service back up to full strength, we have mandated the
01:51 Commissioner of Police to triple the intake of police recruits in 2024, from the usual
01:59 annual intake of 300 recruits a year to 1,000 recruits in 2024."
02:06 He said that the TTPS would be allocated an additional $80 million for new vehicles and
02:11 equipment comparatively from last year to ensure that the police can have a more visible
02:16 presence in various communities and suppress the criminal elements.
02:20 "This additional sum will allow the police to expand and establish more community patrols
02:28 to give the police greater presence and visibility within communities and citizens a greater
02:35 sense of comfort."
02:37 The Finance Minister also indicated that another $15 million will also be allocated
02:42 to the TTPS to allow them to establish the Reverand Police Unit and build a jetty in
02:47 Kairanj.
02:48 The unit will allow the police to patrol rivers across the country where smugglers operate.
02:53 Mark Besant, TV6 News.
02:55 Thanks for watching.
02:56 For more information visit www.fema.gov
02:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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