MINISTER of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds said on Monday that not only prison officers were at risk from violent acts orchestrated by certain inmates behind bars.
He spoke at the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives as his ministry's spending allocation under budget 2024, including the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF), was examined.
Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein had asked why no money was spent last year nor allocation made for 2024 for construction of safe houses for prison officers, as he noted the attempted assassination of the deputy prison commissioner last week.
Last year $500,000 was allocated but zero was spent, documents showed, with nothing allocated in 2022.
Hinds said he had to be careful talking on this sensitive topic, even as he is guided in the matter by the prison service leadership and other law enforcement personnel.
He said he fully agreed with Hosein's concern for the lives of prison officers.
"They have been identified by the criminals in this country, by virtue of the work they do as being at particular risk.
"We are taking, along with them, all possible action to resolving that problem.
"I must tell you, it is not only prison officers who are at risk.
"Everyone of us is at risk because there are people in this country who feel they could do wrong and still be predominant, and do wrong and get right."
He lamented that some criminals kill to go to jail and "are prepared to kill to come out too."
"So I want you to be assured that we are all very, very, very sensitive and alive to the risks."
The law enforcement platform would continue to work with the prison service to deal with this and other matters, Hinds said.
In reply to Hosein's query, Hinds said an unspecified new project will likely replace plans to build a courtroom at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) at Golden Grove, Arouca.
Documents showed some $1 million was allocated last year, with zero spent while $500,000 was allocated this year.
Hinds said that in talks between a Cabinet subcommittee and the Judiciary, the latter had suggested the proposed court be replaced by a new project.
"The judiciary has come up with another idea, in their view superior to the establishment of this."
He said Cabinet had approved it but he gave no details but said any announcement was a matter for the judiciary.
For two years of the covid19 pandemic, TT's law courts had sat virtually, with proceedings via Zoom.
Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally asked about drone-tracking technology to help secure the perimeter fences of TT's jails. Hinds promised to reply in writing.
Hosein asked about a $3 million allocation for the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC). Hinds said Cabinet had previously approved $11 million for an upgrade.
Hosein asked if this entailed expanding the IDC's capacity to hold more people, recalling unrest among Venezuelan migrants detained at the Chaguaramas Heliport.
Hinds said, "No. This project will not yield expansion. It will upgrade and improve the facil
