The People’s National Movement (PNM) Government will apply the past People’s Partnership administration’s promised $1 million death benefit for all protective services officers killed in the line of duty — and not just police only.
That assurance came from National Security Minister Edmund Dillon last night, as he hurried to correct inaccurate statements on the matter by two of his Cabinet colleagues which had immediately sparked fiery condemnation by the Prisons Officers’ Association (POA) and the Fire Services’ Association (FSA).
Dillon issued a statement hours after Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus told yesterday’s post-Cabinet media conference the death benefit would be applicable only to police officers killed in the line of duty, as that had been the decision of the past PP administration.
Harsh reaction immediately arose from the POA and FSA, which demanded that the PNM Government honour the PP administration’s promise to pay the compensation to families of all protective service members who died in the line of duty.
In his subsequent correction of Baptiste-Primus’ earlier statement, Dillon said the $1 million compensation package “will be paid to all of the following: T&T Defence Force, T&T Police Service, T&T Prisons Service and T&T Fire Services.”
He also confirmed the package was “proposed by the previous administration to families of all members of the services slain in the line of duty.”
Baptiste-Primus spoke about the issue after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said in Parliament last Friday the payment would be made to officers killed in the line of duty. He also spoke about it at the PNM’s Malabar meeting on Wednesday.
In the PP’s 2014-2015 budget, then PP finance minister Larry Howai had announced the $1 million death benefit to the estate of law enforcement/protective service officers who died in the line of duty.
However, at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media conference, Baptiste-Primus, when asked if it applied to all members of the protective services, said her understanding was that it was only applicable to police officers.
Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie, also present at the briefing, said that was the “initial announcement.” He added that due to all the questions arising about it, the Government now had to establish mechanisms for the initiative.
Asked the Government’s position in the event other protective services clamoured for it also, Baptiste-Primus said: “We’ll have to deal with those issues as and when they arise.”
But she added that the decision of the former PP administration was to pay police officers and “...that is what we’re keeping faith with.” She said the payments would be made to about three to five police officers who she estimated to have been killed in the line of duty since the initiative was introduced.
“Oh yes...” she said, when asked if it would be retroactive from the time it was announced by the PP.
Baptiste-Primus said a legal process was needed to implement the payments but this may not be lengthy. The arrangement could not be done by the authority of a Cabinet note alone, she added, since an order would have to be amended.
She accused the PP of “not doing anything” to implement the payments. But Baptiste-Primus said it was recognised an undertaking was given and the necessary legal amendments would be made to implement it.
Soon after her announcement, however, an incensed Prisons Officers’ Association president, Cerron Richards, told the T&T Guardian:
“The previous government assured we would receive the death benefit. I had attended a meeting on the issue with the then National Security Minister Gary Griffith, when prisons fell under the Justice Ministry, and we asked if we would be part of the plan and he said we were part of the protective services and would be included.
“We now hear this Labour Minister say otherwise. How can any government forget we are members of the protective services, subject to risk? How can a responsible government isolate one element to benefit and send everyone else out? We won’t accept it!”
Fire Service Association president Leo Ramkissoon also slammed Baptiste-Primus’ statements, querying if she had done proper research and noting fire officers are at very high risk in working with the elements and natural disaster. He said his members were clamouring for clarity and called for the matter to be dealt with urgently.