Regional corporation chairmen and mayors are saying they are strapped for cash and do not have the money to fund a $14 million backpay to municipal police officers. Last Thursday, Local Government Minister Marlene Coudray said the $1,000 special duty allowance, paid to other members of the protective services, would be extended to 394 municipal corporation police.
Coudray said they would receive the allowance retroactively from October 2010, totalling $14 million, and the payments would be made on a one-off basis, depending on the individual corporation’s ability to source the funding. However, in an interview yesterday, Diego Martin Regional Corporation chairman Daryl Smith said the corporation was strapped for funds and was in the process of completing infrastructure to prevent flooding.
Smith said: “How we are going to pay it? We (chairmen) had a meeting with the minister in Paria (Paria Suites, La Romaine), and said she was taking it as a note to Cabinet and get back to us. “The officers work pretty good and it is well deserved and it will have to come from Local Government or National Security (Ministry),” he said.
“We are still finalising every thing and we can’t do to much because it (funding) is entrenched and moving. I don’t know how they are breaking down the $14 million. We are strapped right now with the flooding problems to build box drains.” Arima mayor George Hadeed said: “From the budget I can’t say where we can find any money in terms of paying our municipal police—and I would indeed like to pay them.
“Somehow if we have to source the funding, I would have to cut back in certain areas and we want them comfortable,” he said. “They are an essential service and I belive that is discrimination if we have to find that money. Just as the Police Service were being paid, our municipal police should be paid.”
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rondon said: “We just had our finance meeting and we didn’t reach that far as yet. I am for it, because they work hard. They have to go on agricultural access roads and forests and I will do whatever I could do to honour the commitment.” Last week Friday, Point Fortin mayor Clyde Paul said his corporation had not budgeted for the payment. Chairman of the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation Anthony Roberts said he did not wish to comment.
Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee refused to speak with members of the media and chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Edwin Gooding was unavailable for comment.