By the end of June, plans should be operationalised for retroactive payment of the $1 million death benefit to the families of protective services officers killed in the line of duty, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has confirmed.
Rowley did so in Parliament yesterday while replying to questions from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar during the questions for the PM segment.
The $1 million death benefit was offered to members of the protective services—including police, fire, and prisons officers—by the past People’s Partnership administration in September 2014, and the Rowley-led People’s National Movement administration recently confirmed it would be honoured.
Yesterday, Rowley said the matter is currently before Cabinet and in the “not too distant future” an appropriate policy would be completed. He said the issue was more complex than just doing a cheque since “side issues” had arisen, prompting Government to work toward a “robust” policy. The most major “side issue” was exactly who the claimants might be, who the beneficiaries might be, as well as the circumstances involved.
He said by the end of June the plan should be operationalised. He confirmed it would be effective retroactive to the time it had been announced in 2014.
Rowley also said the issue of what is taking place in neighbouring Venezuela—where that country is reported to be on the brink of economic collapse—will likely be among discussions on the table when Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro comes to T&T on Monday for a brief visit. He said Government recognises the situation is tenuous and, in the light of the economic and political issues across the gulf, is monitoring what is happening to ensure it is not caught off guard in terms of a possible refugee influx. He acknowledged T&T has obligations under international law. Living Waters is the local body which handles refugee issues under the auspices of the United Nations Refugee Agency.
Rowley said he wasn’t aware of Venezuelans seeking refugee status in T&T, but knew of people “seeking aid and succour” (from media reports) and coming to T&T to buy household items from T&T, including LPG gas.
“We have to consider if this exportation is sustainable,” he added, noting Venezuela was T&T’s closest neighbour, just seven miles away.
Replying to queries about rising crime in Central Trinidad, Rowley outlined plans on joint patrols now underway, which he said was one of the responses to the criminal element. He said this will target spikes and surges in crime. He added it was felt previously that Laventille and East Port-of-Spain were the main areas hit by crime, but other areas were also experiencing the same problem.
He was asked by Opposition Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial if the joint patrols he referred to would also be in her constituency, since they hadn’t been seen there. Rowley said he could only report what the security services had said and to the best of his knowledge the patrols go wherever they’re needed. He said he couldn’t answer on a constituency basis.
On government’s plans concerning the 80 kmh speed limit, Rowley said the Works Ministry, which is looking at the limit for various roads, should not be “detained too long” again on this. He said a speed limit is considered in the context of the roadways and the ministry would decide based on the location and design of the roads.
On expected payments for cane farmers, Rowley said Government was committed to making the payment, but certain queries had arisen and an audit was being done to ensure people who are to be paid are there to get it.