In the face of death threats and physical attacks on prisons officers, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal says within the next three weeks he intends to take to Cabinet a proposal to establish a committee to deal specifically with housing for members of the protective services.
Moonilal made the comments during a press conference held at the ministry's office at South Quay in Port-of-Spain yesterday.
He said the committee would be a collaboration between Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar and himself. The conference was held shortly before yesterday's jailbreak.
"We intend to collaborate to establish a technical and stakeholder committee to be charged with the undertaking of a policy review of housing for the protective services. We anticipate going to Cabinet in the short term to look at specifically housing for the protective services.
"We are looking at what is akin to other countries where you may look at zones for protective services officers...specific housing estates designed for members of the protective services with a different level of security, a different type of infrastructure and design. We are looking to get the required persons on board in about two weeks and in about three weeks to go to Cabinet to approve such a policy," Moonilal said.
He said in some countries there were "militarised housing estates for members of the military."
The housing minister said he was pleased with the positive response from the Prison Officers Association (POA) regarding the proposal, adding that it could also do its part by raising capital to provide support for such programmes.
"So that we could really have a joint venture partnership between the Government and the stakeholder associations," Moonilal said.
Saying that he remained concerned about issues raised by the association, Moonilal gave the assurance that both long-term and short-term solutions would be implemented.
He said between May 2010, when the People's Partnership Government assumed office, and July 2015 some 681 law enforcement officials received houses including those from the Coast Guard, Defence Force, Prisons and Police Service.
Also present was president of the POA Ceron Richards who said given the grave situation prisons officers faced daily, yesterday's discussion was heartening. He said the association was awaiting a speedy response, adding that a number of officers lived in "terrifying communities."