Relatives of 16 members of the protective services killed in the line of duty will now benefit from the $1 million compensative package from the Government after Cabinet approved the payout yesterday.
The Ministry of National Security made the announcement in a press release yesterday, saying the Government remained committed to providing protection for law enforcement officers who have been victims of crime.
“Cabinet has agreed to honour the payment of one million dollars to the estates of members of the protective services who were killed in the line of duty from January 1, 2013.
“Continued efforts are underway to ensure that the members of the protective services who have given their lives for the security of this country receive the recognition that they deserve,” the release said.
The policy was initiated by the former People’s Partnership administration but had not been paid out up to this point.
In a brief interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Fitzalbert Victor Sr, the father of slain prison officer Victor Jr, said it was a good idea to compensate the relatives of the slain law enforcement officers.
“I read it in the papers but nobody didn’t contact me. It is a good thing but that can’t bring back life but it can help you a lot,” he said.
Victor Junior, 32, was shot in the head and body by a man who jumped the wall to his home as he was washing his vehicle at Prizgar Lands, Laventille, early this year.
The T&T Guardian also reached out to other families but many of them did not wish to comment on the decision.
President of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association Michael Seales said while they were relieved the decision had finally been made, they were hoping that relatives would not have to wait long for the compensation to be paid.
“I want to say on behalf of my members it is a heartfelt thanks and it was long time coming,” an elated Seales said in reference to how long they have been clamouring for the payment to be made.
“We hope that we go forward with the accessing of the funds, that there is a short time span for the relatives of those who died so they will have some sense of normalcy in their life.”
He said an officer was considered on duty even if he is responding to a report while off duty. He said now that the current Government had finally fulfilled the promise to make the payments, the association would be “championing the cause” of those who were considered to be on-duty.
“It is a bold step and we have to take it. There is a proliferation of firearms for those who are bent on criminal activity and officers come under fire when they respond to reports,” he said.
Seales said the association was not going to protest against the January 2013 date from which the payments had become effective.
“We can’t raise an issue with the date. This will take care of some of the persons that we made representations for. We would like to go beyond that day but that is when it started for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, secretary of the Prisons Officers Association Gerard Gordon said they too were happy the promise was followed through on but was also just as keen to see officers protected in the line of duty.
“We must state that we are very interested in measures used to protect officers while they are alive. We have advanced to the Government, via our line ministry and the Attorney General, the hope that legislation be developed to deal specifically with threats to officers’ lives,” he said.
Gordon said the association was happy for the families of slain officers, noting they would be given some financial relief after losing their loved ones.
“But we reiterate that we want to be able to carry out our duties in an environment which enables us to do so without fear of reprisal,” he added.
Officers killed in the line of duty since January 2013:
(2013)
1. Andy Rogers, 42, shot dead in Arima on November 7.
2. Sgt Hayden Manwaring, 43, shot dead in line of duty in San Fernando on February 19 .
3. Cpl Terrence Abraham, 39, shot in Couva; died later at hospital.
4. Cpl Simon Clapham, 47, shot dead in Woodbrook.
(2014)
5. Prison officer Dominic Bernard, 37, stabbed to death in Point-a-Pierre on June 15.
2015
6. Prison officer Andell Primus, 27, shot and killed in Morvant on July 17 .
7. PC Sherman Maynard, 27, shot dead during daring prison break at the Port-of-Spain Prison.
8. PC Montgomery Guy, 49, shot dead in St James
9. Supt Joel Nedd, 58, shot dead near his Couva home
10. Prisons Supt David Millette was shot dead at his home at Cipriani Avenue, Second Caledonia, Morvant
11. Special Forces Cpl Shervaun Charleau killed at Fort George
12. PC Russell Ramnarine, 24, of College Road, St Augustine, gunned down at Aranguez Road, Aranguez
(2016)
13. Prisons officer Fitzalbert Victor, 32, was shot in the head and body at his Prizgar Lands, Laventille, home.
14. PC Anson Benjamin shot dead while responding to burglary at a supermarket in St Clement’s, San Fernando.
15. PC Jason John ambushed, shot and killed while walking to his home at Five Rivers, Arouca.
16. Defence Force Cpl Jerry Leacock was killed at Jacob Hill, Wallerfield.
17. Prison officer Rishi Sankar found dead in the Tabaquite forest