Financial constraints affect soldiers’ meals

NATIONAL Security Minister Stuart Young says financial constraints have resulted in the members of Defence Force not receiving the type of food they are used to.

He was responding to an urgent question in the Senate yesterday from Opposition Senator Wade Mark on measures to address the poor quality of food being served to them.

President Paula-Mae Weekes recently reported soldiers complained to her they were not receiving proper meals even though money was being deducted from their salaries, and their meals included "macaroni pelau."

Young said the Defence Force is one of the premier institutions and as a citizen he was proud of the members and their services.

"And as they know, they have my full support."

He said Government has continued to face difficulties related to cash flow and no institution was unaffected. He reported over the past few weeks one of the issues he has been speaking directly to Chief of Defence Staff Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard about is prioritising financial resources for the Defence Force.

Young said he noted reported comments about meals for soldiers and asked the person in charge of finances at the Defence Force and the National Security Permanent Secretary "urgently (to) work together to prioritise requests for releases for the TT Defence Force, which would include money for supplies such as food, and that the Ministry of National Security work closely with the Defence Force to alleviate any shortcomings in this area of food supplies."

Mark asked how long the situation of poor quality of food has been happening in the Defence Force.

Young said it was not "poor quality of food" but "they have not been able to get a certain mix and standard of food that they had become accustomed to, and this was being worked on."

He did not know how long the situation has been happening but reiterated it was a matter of priority for the Chief of Defence Staff, the person in charge of finances in the Defence Force and the Finance Ministry.