00:00During the Standing Finance Committee's examination of the government's budget
00:04for fiscal 2025 on Friday, Barataria San Juan MP Saddam Hussein sought details
00:10from National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hines about the allocation
00:14for what the government calls the nation's premier intelligence gathering
00:19agency. The SSA strategic services agency. Minister this is one of the
00:25largest expenditure for the SSA over the period of time that this
00:31present administration has been in power where the SSA is going to be
00:35allocated 270 million dollars out of the appropriation coming out for the
00:42Ministry of National Security. This reflects a 67 million dollar increase
00:48from the last fiscal year. Budget documents show that for fiscal 2024 the
00:54SSA had an estimated allocation of 270 million dollars and a revised estimated
01:00expenditure of 202.4 million dollars. The government's 2024 financial year ended
01:07on September 30th. In March of this year the office of the Prime Minister said
01:12the SSA's director was sent on leave. He was subsequently fired. The OPM also
01:17said that the new acting SSA director retired a Brigadier General Anthony
01:21Phillips Spencer is currently engaged in initiating an extensive review and
01:27audits of the agency. Remuneration package for the director of the SSA
01:32that's what I said. Would you provide that? I would consider that. No not
01:40consider whether you would provide. I would consider that. No we have to have
01:43an answer. You have an answer. In July of this year Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley
01:49told the Parliament that the ongoing audit of the SSA had so far revealed
01:53there had been a plot by some in the SSA to replace the political leadership. On
01:58Friday MP Hussain sought further clarification about the SSA's estimated
02:04allocation for fiscal 2025. Minister out of this 270 million dollars how much
02:11goes towards the expenditure for CCTV cameras? Minister Hines said an
02:16arrangement was made to purchase and utilize 2,500 CCTV cameras that could
02:22assist in the provision of intelligence. And therefore in those circumstances an
02:27expenditure of 69 million two hundred and fifty eight thousand six hundred and
02:36sixty six dollars and seventy eight cents was expended in respect of that
02:42matter. The fiber to have supported this system which I must tell you will
02:49support another 2,500 which are at the moment being approached or procured. The
02:57backbone was contracted and was done and that would have cost fifty five point
03:05one million dollars. MP Hussain sought confirmation on which companies are
03:10providing those services. So Minister is it correct to say that Johnson Control
03:15who the Canadian company that provides the cameras will pay 69 million and
03:20Digicel which is in charge of the backbone is paid fifty five point one
03:23million dollars? I have just indicated to you what the backbone would cost. And is
03:30it Digicel? And the cameras. And that is Digicel? Yes. And the cameras is Johnson's
03:36Control? Yes. In response to a request from MP Hussain, Minister Hines said he
03:41would consider providing the cost of each CCTV camera in writing.
03:46Jule Brown, TV6 News.
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