Taxpayers will be paying $16 million in 2017 to feed T&T’s 3,600-plus prisoners, as well as prisons officers on duty.
That works out to about $13 to $14 per person a day, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon confirmed yesterday.
Dillon spoke about the costs as he fielded questions from the Opposition on national security matters in yesterday’s Standing Finance Committee meeting in Parliament.
The committee examined items in the 2017 Budget, with Government officials responding to Opposition questions on this. Yesterday’s discussions focused on the National Security Ministry, which was allocated $7.6 billion in the Budget. The biggest part of the National Security allocation went to the T&T Police Service—39 per cent. Dillon said the focus in using the allocation was on ensuring there was no wastage.
Dillon confirmed a $16 million allocation in National Security expenditure was for provision of meals for prisoners and prisons officers who are on duty.
The 2017 figure was decreased by $400,000 from the 2016 allocation.
Asked by Opposition MP Suruj Rambachan if the daily cost figure for meals—$14 a day—was realistic, Dillon said, “It’s all a question of managing resources and understanding the economy; the prison also grows its own vegetables which supplements meals.”
Dillon said 4,260 people were employed in the prison service.
He also confirmed a decrease in funding by $7 million for provision of Defence Force food. He said it was part of removing wastage and involved merging the purchasing of items for the Defence Force and Coast Guard, where previously their purchasing had been done separately.
However, it was confirmed that among the ministry’s $60 million allocation for security costs, $46 million is earmarked for the “Justice on Time” prisoner transport programme.
On questions about the slow pace of processing at Immigration offices, Dillon said Immigration staff comprises 365 officers and is short of the full complement by 40 people. He said staff is working around the clock and some on Saturdays also, to speed up processing of applications for passports, citizenship and permanent residence.
On whether the shortage affects security at ports of entry, Dillon said the Chief Immigration Officer assigns officers at ports such as Cedros and Chaguaramas according to the need.
He also said property will be acquired next year to relocate the Forensic Science Centre. While denying a corpse had gone missing from the centre due to overcrowding, he admitted expansion of the centre is needed to increase efficiency, modernise systems and expand units, including the ballistics (weapon) tracing aspect.
“We’re looking at two parcels of land but haven’t decided on this yet. We’re seeking to get the property and start the project by the end of 2017 based on acquisition and design,” he said.
Only 62 of the centre’s 83 posts are filled, Dillon added.
The ministry’s 2017 allocation includes funding for payment of arrears—estimated to be 50 per cent outstanding from the 2016 payments—to all protective service members in 2017. Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the backpay was “a lot” but added that he has written to all services confirming members would be paid.
Dillon said properties will be rented for the Fire Service head office and for stations in Chaguanas and Point Fortin, which will be used until stations are built. The fully outfitted Mayaro Fire Station—built by the past PP government—will be “handed over” this year, he also confirmed. Dillon noted concerns by Rambachan on the length of time it takes for fire tenders to leave the current Chaguanas location.
Dillon also said he felt the country’s 201 life guards were adequate for T&T’s 12 beaches. He said drownings have occurred in areas where no lifeguards were present. He also rubbished claims that lifeguards are low down in the ministry’s priorities.
“There are no stepchildren in National Security—they’re part of the National Security family,” he stressed.