Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander and Opposition MPs clashed yesterday during the Standing Finance Committee’s examination of the National Budget, as debate intensified over allocations to the T&T Police Service (TTPS) for fiscal 2026.
The exchanges grew heated as Opposition members raised concerns about cuts to several key budget items, including overtime payments, vehicle maintenance and food provision for police officers.
One of the main points of contention was the reduction in the TTPS’s overtime allocation. Opposition MP Stuart Young questioned whether the $11 million cut would affect operations and morale within the service.
“There is a reduction of overtime for monthly paid workers by $11 million at a time when we are in a second State of Emergency for the year. I hope it’s all hands on deck,” Young said.
“There are times when you can’t get a shift change and it goes into overtime. How is it, in the current state, the Government is reducing the police service’s overtime?”
Alexander dismissed those concerns, explaining that filling existing vacancies within the TTPS would naturally reduce overtime costs.
“When you fill vacancies, the officer who has to stay on can now go home because the required number of persons will be available,” he said.
Alexander said this was part of the TTPS strategy to curb overtime expenses, which have exceeded $400 million over the last two years.
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo also rejected claims by Young that members of the TTPS were “abusing” overtime, noting that monitoring and staffing arrangements had improved significantly.
Tensions escalated further when Alexander refused to disclose the name of the company providing leased vehicles to the TTPS, citing national security concerns.
“It would be inappropriate to divulge that information publicly,” he said after repeated calls from the Opposition for transparency.
Young also questioned a $15 million reduction in the allocation for vehicle maintenance, warning it could hinder police mobility and efficiency.
“Is the Government seeking to create a crisis in the Police Service? Is it boots back on the ground?” Young asked, noting the allocation for vehicle upkeep had already been cut.
Alexander assured that police operations would not be affected.
“The past government, without strategy, did not know how to operate. This Government intends to lease vehicles to avoid the maintenance costs. As soon as a vehicle goes down, it will be replaced,” he said.
Another point of dispute came over a $2.5 million cut to the allocation for food provision for officers. Young pressed Alexander on whether Government was “tying the hands” of the TTPS by limiting basic support.
Alexander defended the allocations, saying the ministry’s approach was focused on efficiency, accountability, and better resource management.
“They are working with the present allocation to ensure they can sustain operations, and they may have to come back later if adjustments are needed,” he said.
Young maintained, however, that the TTPS was already operating in arrears to caterers.
The discussion also turned to the creation of a new special anti-crime operations unit, which received a $2.5 million allocation — a significant increase from the previous $425,000.
Young asked whether the new unit mirrored the disbanded Special Operations Response Team (SORT).
Alexander dismissed the comparison, stressing the new unit “will not be SORT.” He described it as “strategic, technically sound, and well-prepared through training to protect citizens,” adding that it would be “more operative and covert-oriented” in its approach to tackling serious crime.
