Works and Transport Minister Jack Minister has dismissed reports that Cabinet had agreed to a 20 per cent pay hike for police officers.The report was carried in another newspaper yesterday.Warner denied the report when questioned about it after yesterday's sod-turning ceremony to start construction of an elevated Uriah Butler Highway at the intersection of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway yesterday.He said the highway project would take a maximum of 24 months to complete. Warner said about 750 people would be employed at the peak of construction.
He said no decision to approve a 20 per cent hike in salaries for police officers had been taken in the People's Partnership Cabinet."The cabinet of which I am a member, we never agreed to that," Warner insisted.In his address at the ceremony, Warner said that the protest action by police, public servants and others had escalated since the PP Government assumed office, because "the prime minister is a woman, particularly an Indian woman...Everybody want everything same time."
And he said the breathalyser had not had the desired objectives since being implemented in this country."Breathalyser tests are done vie-ki-vie, so it hasn't reduced the drunk driving on the roads, it has not reduced the carnage," Warner said.He said new measures would have to be implemented to enforce the laws and as a consequence, 85 traffic wardens would be put on the nation's roads to help curb traffic offences.
Warner also warned motorists against using their mobile phones while driving without hands-free devices.A law, which is now in effect, imposes a fine of $1,500 or three months' imprisonment for anyone found guilty of breaching it.Warner said mobilisation for the start of construction of the $7.2 billion San Fernando/Point Fortin Highway would begin on Thursday.