Alexander: Cameras contract cancelled to save funds

Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said the contract for 3,000 body-worn cameras which was awarded in August 2024 was cancelled in an attempt to save funds. He said acquiring body-worn cameras remains a priority for the government.

He made the statement in response to a question from Opposition Senator Vishnu Dhanpaul in the Senate on September 26.

Dhanpaul asked for the status of 5,000 body cameras purchased for use by the police service. Alexander said, based on information from the Commissioner of Police, the police service tendered for 3,000 cameras. He said this was done in accordance with the regulations established by the Office of Procurement Regulations.

“A letter of award was subsequently submitted in August 2024 and was issued to a contractor in the sum of $24,965,310. On September 9, 2024, the contractor provided the police service with a bond in the sum of $2,496,531. That contract has since been terminated.

Dhanpaul asked why the contracts were terminated, to which Alexander responded, “In a bid to save millions of dollars, the contract was in fact terminated.”

He said body-worn cameras are part of the tools of a police officer, so acquiring the cameras was still a priority for the government.

Dhanpaul also asked what percentage of police officers currently use body-worn cameras on active duty. Alexander said as of June 10, 2025, 17.9 per cent of police officers wore cameras on active duty.

He said the cameras were allocated to the divisional task force; the inter-agency task force; emergency response patrol branch; traffic and highway patrol branch; Port of Spain division; western division; eastern division; southern division; southwestern division; northeastern division; Tobago division; central division; northern division north; and northern north-central division.

“It is important to note that the body-worn cameras assigned to these units and divisions and not assigned to personal officers. As a result, the daily use of these devices may vary on a day-to-day basis depending on the daily assignments and rationale operations across TT.”

During the Standing Finance Committee on June 15, Alexander said there were 970 body cameras in active use. At the time, he said 3,000 cameras had been requested.

The contract was initially made with Diamond Systems and Supplies Ltd (DSSL).