Government moving to improve national security and public safety

Under its Vision 2020 pillar of “Governing Effectively,” government has invested a total of $1,300 million in projects and programmes aimed at improving national security and public safety in 2009 to 2010.

Significant progress has already been made in implementing the Inter-American Development Bank assisted Citizen Security Programme, which involves partnerships between community and faith based agencies and government ministries on interventions aimed at reducing crime in violence in 22 high risk communities. The sum of $5 million was spent on several activities including:

• Engagement of a consultant to design and supervise a community peace promoter programme and

• The provision of equipment for support units including the purchase of 70 computers and provision of social work professionals for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

Infrastructural improvements in the Police Service continued in 2009 at a cost of $16.7 million through:

• Completion of upgrade works at Scarborough Police Station and continuation of refurbishment works at the Chaguanas, Biche, Caroni (Canine), Cedros, Marabella, La Horquetta, Penal and San Juan Police Stations at a cost of $14.7 million

• Procurement of furniture and equipment at a cost of $1 million for the Police Training Academy, St. James

• Purchase of four customized vehicles for the Canine Division and installation of surveillance cameras at police stations in St. James, Police Barracks, Sangre Grande, Cedros, Princes Town, Siparia, La Horquetta and the Commissioner of Police’s Residence

Commencement of designs by UDECOTT for the construction of 19 new police stations across the country, is being funded outside the PSIP.

A total of $1,043 million was spent on three Offshore Patrol Vessels and Six Fast Patrol Crafts. In terms of the Army, $29 million was provided in fiscal year 2009 for infrastructure development at the facilities of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service utilized $20.4 million in upgrading physical infrastructure and acquiring modern equipment for efficient fire fighting and emergency service.

The Prison Service continued with its infrastructural works and new rehabilitation initiatives to bring the country’s penal institutions to international standards. Overall investment amounted to $18.5 million. And at the Immigration Division, work began on the redesign of Immigration offices in Port of Spain at a cost of $6.6 million. The facility will accommodate additional staff and facilitate the approvals of applicants for Machine-Readable Passports.

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CREDITS: Story by Nicola Joseph using information from Government’s publication on Public Sector Investment 2009 to 2010.
Photo by Pedro Manuel Monteiro