CHARLES KONG SOO
charles.kongsoo@guardian.co.tt
With a record 600-plus murders in 2022, rampant gang violence, escalating home invasions and increasing violent crime in T&T, the announcement on Friday by Finance Minister Colm Imbert of a waiver of all taxes on CCTV cameras and DVRs used in CCTV systems was welcome news by citizens faced with the scourge of homicides and criminal activity as well as the security industry.
The taxes include Customs Duty, Online Purchase Tax, and Value Added Tax and took effect from January 1.
Trinidadian Nebert Marin, director of SASMAN (Security & Survival Management) Sales LLC, in Florida, USA said "As a policy position this is a very welcomed adjustment. The real-world financial implication is that video surveillance ought to become more affordable for households and business operators and there are benefits to our liberty and sense of security as well.
"However, whether cameras will help reduce crime and home invasions, the answer is, it depends," he said.
CCTV is only as good as the performance of the equipment and the quality of the installation.
Nebert Marin
"Grainy images of someone doing something filmed by the equivalent of a potato are not going to help crime fighters to solve crimes.
"The majority of video surveillance is not viewed in real-time to prevent crime. The only time most CCTV footage is looked at is after an incident to get leads and as evidence."
He said there was perhaps some deterrent effect but ever since COVID-19, criminals were wearing masks just like the law-abiding citizens and blending in.
Marin explained that masks coupled with poor-quality camera systems and poorly designed system layout did not inspire hope that this measure will benefit people unless buyers know what to purchase and how to know whether a particular system was right for their particular application.
He added that if someone was shopping strictly based on price, they will end up with garbage and that was what criminals would like them to do.
Marin said that in the world of video surveillance, there were way too many options.
His quick recommendations for the majority of single-family dwelling houses that were commonplace in T&T on typical 5,000-square-foot lots were as follows:
*Look for network-type IP cameras as opposed to analogue cameras. These are more expensive but offer higher resolution, and better image output and can record right onto the camera or send the footage to a Digital Video Recorder or the cloud.
*Know the difference between indoor and outdoor cameras when you’re making a purchase. Understand ratings such as IP and IK. IP goes from IP00 to IP69 and this has to do with the camera’s ability to withstand dust and rain.
*For outdoor cameras, you will need a minimum of IP66. The IK code has to do with the ability of the camera to withstand impacts. In both cases the higher the number the better. Next consider the camera type, wide-angle, or PTZ (pan, tilt zoom) which are excellent but are high cost and complex to set up.
Meanwhile, Simon Sobrian, managing director of Shield Security Services said that while CCTV cameras were not a deterrent to criminal activity, they could assist the police, but will not stop home invasions or murders.
He said the criminal elements were extremely brazen, when they wear masks and caps their identities were concealed, and the cameras would come into play after the crime.
Rolston De Coteau, owner Pro-Line Audio and Security Systems said he hoped that there will be a reduction in the cost of CCTV systems with no hidden agendas. He said when it was previously announced on the last occasion it only applied to DIY camera kits like what was sold in warehouse shopping outlets and electronics stores.
He added that the waiver should apply to professional cameras used for specific applications and also include parts and accessories as well such as batteries, hard drives, wires, cables, and power adapters.
According to a release from the Ministry of Finance, "Previously, the tax waiver on CCTV equipment was limited to complete CCTV system packages, and not individual items. This measure now makes it possible for all components in a CCTV system, such as cameras and DVRs, to be free of tax, whether combined in a system or imported as individual components.
"The measure is expected to bring monetary ease to individuals or businesses investing in the components for these systems and to assist citizens who wish to invest in their own surveillance systems, both at home or at the office/workplace. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had stated last November that the tax break was to ensure that homeowners and business owners were able to install security cameras as a measure to combat crime.