Government has identified a Central Trinidad base for the establishment of a 24-hour army and police presence, which would come into force before year-end, said National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.
He was speaking during his contribution to the 2017 budget debate in Parliament yesterday.
Central UNC MPs had appealed for a 24-hour security presence in recent months in the wake of intensified crime.
The National Security Ministry is also in the process of identifying the estates of protective service officers killed in the line of duty and their $1 million death benefit will be paid, Dillon said.
He said the ministry received Cabinet approval to treat with the issue. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday begged Government to make the $1 million payment, which was an initiative of her People’s Partnership government. She said the families of about five or six officers are to benefit.
Dillon, who congratulated police and soldiers for their anti-crime efforts, said they put their lives on the line daily.
He said Government must show appreciation and that was why efforts were made in one year to deal with the $1 million death benefit which, he said, the PP administration had taken two years to prepare.
While Dillon said that he could not disagree with Persad-Bissessar that crime is intolerable, he noted Opposition hindrance of government’s efforts to get anti-crime legislation approved. He also outlined “game changer” systems and upgrades that would have an impact on the situation in 2017.
Dillon rejected accusations he had “given up” on the crime fight. He said that meant surrendering and he has not surrendered.
“Surrendering means a last resort and calling a State of Emergency, but this Government will never call a State of Emergency. We always have options,” he said, an obvious reference to the 2011 State of Emergency instituted by the former administration.
He said the new Joint Border Security Agency has submitted a report with “game changer” recommendations for security agencies. Next step is policy, procurement and Cabinet scrutiny, he said.
He said maritime security—the most vulnerable aspect being flow of guns and drugs—will be tightened with the re-establishment of a police marine branch for rivers, lagoons and similar areas since there are 91 possible points of entry to T&T.
He said T&T was faced with illegal guns, drugs, terrorism and human trafficking, “but we understand the security environment and our measures involve a whole-of-government approach.”
Murder toll intolerable
The minister said that the 352 murders, so far, for 2016 were an intolerable figure which he was “very much not comfortable with.”
The largest motivation for murder was gang-related (99), followed by drugs (60), revenge killings (49), domestic violence (23) and altercations (29). He did not account for the remaining 92 murder victims. For the comparable period last year there were 335 murders.
Since upgrading security measures and police presence in various areas 7,976 people have been arrested and charged.
After the introduction of speed guns for highway patrols, 6,449 tickets have also been issued. More devices are being obtained, he said. Dillon noted the recent capture of two ex-Special Forces soldiers on gun charges was due to highway patrol assistance.
He said the proposed video conferencing facility at prisons—eliminating the need to transport inmates to and from courts—is 40 per cent finished and will be completed next year. He said this will speed up the hearing of matters and reduce overcrowding.
A service provider is being engaged for implementation of the electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) system.
CCTV security cameras around T&T now total 1,800, he said. Training between CCTV personnel and police officers will facilitate a “change of response” in 2017, he said.
Dillon said T&T must be conscious of how terrorism affects the country as it does others. This is being handled legislatively via the Attorney General, and operationally by his ministry’s Counter-Terrorism Unit which comes onstream in 2017.
Dillon said a National Security Policy—started by former PP National Security minister John Sandy—will be completed to formulate policy for all security sectors.