Debate over national security spending turned heated in Parliament today as Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander refused to disclose details the Opposition claimed were critical to accountability. The Minister insisted the information was too sensitive to share publicly.
00:00The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is seeing a significant drop in budget requests for salaries and vehicle maintenance.
00:09Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says some of the cuts are linked to restructuring within the force, but opposition MPs remain skeptical.
00:17Funding requests from the TTPs for salaries and cost of living allowances have fallen by $96 million.
00:24Alexander attributes this decrease to arrears being paid off the last fiscal year and officers being moved into substantive posts within the service.
00:34How by reducing it by $96 million can it be that the response is by moving people into substantive posts?
00:44So, remember, if you understand the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, you will realize that there are a lot of persons who are acting in the capacity two ranks up.
00:59And if you're acting in two ranks up, it takes a different amount of enumerations to keep you covered.
01:07If we remove that from what is presently existing, then we should not have that problem here.
01:14The TTPs currently has 6,545 officers.
01:20The minister also confirmed that the service leases or rents 189 vehicles from 18 companies.
01:28But he refused to disclose the company's name citing national security risks.
01:33This is a very sensitive matter, national security interests.
01:37And the member should know that.
01:38He was just there for a month.
01:40So you should have known that that is not possible.
01:43We are not there to compromise anybody's safety and security.
01:48Government MP stood firmly behind the minister.
01:51But can I suggest that the minister undertakes to take legal advice from his legal unit, subject to that legal advice, then to provide it in writing?
02:01I think we are all familiar with that process.
02:04The matter of national security, we can't impose for the minister to go to seek legal advice.
02:09No, we're not agreeing to that.
02:11And again.
02:12These are matters that have been in the documents for several years and decades and so on.
02:18Many of us have participated in this process on both sides of the aisle.
02:22And it is the member ought to know, and other members as well, that these matters are extremely sensitive matters of national security and ought not to be exposed in that way.
02:34It can compromise officers.
02:36It can compromise investigations.
02:38And of course, there's a huge security risk that I think members opposite all are aware of.
02:47So that information can't be forthcoming in the manner that you're asking for it.
02:51The opposition pressed further asking for details on routine vehicle operations.
02:57I am assuming, or at least the impression being given, which can't be correct, is that under 0209, every single vehicle that is rented, or at least there, is a covert vehicle.
03:10That can't be possible.
03:12There would be vehicles that would be used for routine operations.
03:16And that is not a matter of national security.
03:19It is only covert vehicles that are matters of national security.
03:22So could the minister give an undertaking that the suppliers of vehicles used for routine operations, the one we see all outside on the street, the suppliers could be provided to us?
03:35No?
03:37No?
03:37I cannot.
03:39Really?
03:39I cannot.
03:40I am not willing to compromise national security.
03:43Compromise?
03:44No, I'm not doing that.
03:47Mr. Chairman.
03:48I am not doing that.
03:49Minister Alexander was also questioned about a $15 million reduction in vehicle maintenance.
03:56How do you expect this to affect the efficient running of the police service?
04:01By a reduction of over a million dollars a month in its maintenance program.
04:06He explained the government's plan to lease vehicles as a cost-saving measure compared to the previous administration's approach.
04:14The past government, without strategy, did not understand what was required.
04:20Without strategy, did not know how to operate.
04:24So we will help them.
04:26Thank you very much, minister.
04:28This government intends to...
04:30Minister...
04:32This government intends to lease vehicles...
04:36To lease vehicles?
04:37To avoid the cost...
04:39Of maintenance.
04:40All right.
04:41But, minister, you've reduced the leasing amount as well.
04:47The minister also revealed that of the 999 contract positions available within the TDPS, 579 are currently filled.
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