Cash payment of $309.2 million in backpay owed to police, prisons and fire service officers will be paid this month and the balance of $50.5m will be paid in July and August once all paysheets are processed and audited, Prime Minister Keith Rowley has assured.
Rowley confirmed the situation yesterday in Parliament replying to this and other Opposition questions. He said the balance of payment owed in 2017 is to be discussed.
Pressed on other matters by Opposition MPs - including Government’s position on privacy rights of citizens - Rowley said all rights under the Constitution will be protected and preserved by Government. But he stressed that rights were not absolute.
LGBTI rights
On policies to protect Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT ) people, the PM said every citizen regardless of who he or she may be are, have the Constitution’s protection. And he said to give effect to that protection, all state agencies including the police, have a duty to protect everyone regardless of “who they sleep with not.”
But when asked he government would outlaw buggery, he said it wasn’t on the legislative agenda.
Jamaica trip
The PM said he was going to Jamaica to better TT-Jamaica relations and indicate “brotherly love.” He accused the the former Prime Minister for breaking such bonds initially in 2010 with her remarks that “T&T isn’t an ATM” card . But he added that simmering resentment was relit recently when Jamaicans were denied entry to T&T.
Venezuela
Asked about the upcoming OAS meeting which will discuss Venezuela, he said T&T ‘s position is to “sail very close to the wind” regarding the OAS founding principles.
At this stage, the PM said T&T has no other position but to subscribe to the view that there is duly elected President of Venezuela and isn’t interfering in its business in a way inimical to interests . Adding that Venezuela is T&T’s closest neighbour, Rowley said the choice of a Venezuelan Government is for the Venezuelan people.
Rowley added the OAS meeting hadn’t been discussed during the recent visit of the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Security and crime
Rowley declined to explain if his traditional Special Branch security details had been replaced by Special Forces soldiers. He said it was not appropriate for him to talk about the security arrangements for himself or any public official exposed to criminal elements.
He confirmed western coast guard patrols are a long term measure and reeled off a litany of Central Trinidad street names when asked to identify Central areas where joint army patrols have been instituted, “ Nearly all the streets - that indicates very good coverage,” he added.
Rowley said the Cyber crime bill will be brought to Parliament in a month following comments by media bodies. (GA)