$20m finally reaches police

The Police Finance Branch has finally received $20 million for use by Police Commissioner Gary Griffith to cover some of the expenses of the police service.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security Vel Lewis confirmed the money was made available to the Police Finance Branch late on Monday.

He said, “We had some discussions with the commissioner as well as the PS, Ministry of Finance, about expenditure requirements for the police service. We have developed a budget of the priority areas for the first quarter of the year, the Ministry of Finance gave a commitment to provide the funding in a couple of tranches, and the Police Finance Branch received the first tranche of $20 million on Monday afternoon.”

He said after Minister of Finance Colm Imbert signed off on the release of the $20 million, there was some paperwork to do, and the money then went directly to the finance branch.

The CoP is accounting officer for the police service. The release is copied to Ministry of National Security for record purposes.

The police service has its own expenditure head and the commissioner is responsible for that and has to account for all the money. The next payout is expected in early February.

Griffith, who is in England to hold talks with police agencies on assistance and training in various fields, will be able to use some of the money on his return to buy pepper spray and Tasers which specially trained officers will begin using by next month.

In December last year, Griffith applied for an $80 million release from the Ministry of Finance to cover priority expenses. The Minister of Finance approved $20 million, but sources said because some paperwork was not completed, the release was not made available.

This resulted in police officers who needed vouchers to cover medical expenses being unable to source the funds from the finance branch.

The mounted branch and K-9 unit were also unable to buy food for the animals.

Well-placed sources said gas station owners began grumbling about police failing to pay for gas for the depot at St James.

Some companies which provide services to the police were also unpaid.

Police Social and Welfare Association secretary Insp Anand Ramesar had described the situation as grim and called on the Minister of Finance and the CoP to explain why officers were being deprived, saying they were suffering as a result of the delay in releasing the funds.

Finance branch officers told Newsday they hoped the additional $60 million reaches the account soon.