$2.6M strategic threat project for OPM

Other approved increases included $149,491,000; $21,857,680; $10 million; $751,100 and $4,920,270 for the National Security Ministry; Elections and Boundaries Commission; Parliament; Tax Appeal Board and the Service Commissions.

Indicating that further details will be provided next Wednesday, when the Mid-Year Review will be presented, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the strategic threat assessment project dealt with issues such as, “strategic threats to critical installations, strategic threats to national security.” National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said this built on the existing threat assessment centre, through capacity building. Dillon stressed that too many details could not be provided for security reasons. During discussion on the increase for his ministry, Dillon disclosed that a US$89 million contract which the former People’s Partnership (PP) government entered into with Chinese telecommunications company, got National Security Council approval but, “it was discovered there was never Cabinet approval for the expenditure.” As Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed surprise, Dillon said US$59,918,500 had been paid to date on this contract and Government is rectifying the situation. Imbert said there was no need for the increased monies to National Security Ministry to be used to pay backpay for police officers or compensate the families of officers killed in the line of duty, as those matters had already been taken care of.

Regarding Parliament’s expenditure, Imbert said the Parliament would determine which constituency offices were high risk and allocate security accordingly. He said it was the “obligation of every MP” to report break ins at their constituency offices to the Parliament and the House Committee was a forum to do so. Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal quipped, “the House Committee is not the police station.” Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis then reminded MPs about a situation where an Opposition MP allowed a police officer to use his constituency office under questionable circumstances.