The Ministry of Finance has taken note of an inaccurate article in today's edition (Sunday January 13th, 2019) of the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday entitled “Squeeze for Police" which erroneously alleges that since the 2018/2019 budget last year, the Ministry of Finance has only released funds to meet obligations for salaries for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
This article is wholly incorrect.
In particular, based on a December 2018 letter from the Commissioner of Police for $80 million in funding for goods and services for the Police Service, and in consultation with the Commissioner, the Ministry of Finance has so far released $20 million to the Police for equipment, materials, services and supplies.
A further $20 million is scheduled to be released for this purpose within the next two weeks and a balance of $40 million in February 2019.
The Newsday article thus has no basis in fact.