Trinidad & Tobago

Port-of-Spain - Fifty highly paid security guards assigned to the Prime Minister's residence, Diplomatic Centre and Office of the Prime Minister were last Friday axed from duties which they had been carrying out since 2007.
Forty of their colleagues from the security company Executive Security Services have been retained to carry out duties as support staff for army personnel who began official duties at the PM's residence, Diplomatic Centre and Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday.
Those officers who were spared from being dismissed reportedly passed a polygraph test which was ordered by Executive Director of the Prime Minister's Household, and Diplomatic Centre, retired Brigadier Carl Alfonso and National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith. With the dismissal of the 50 officers the country will now be spared paying (TT) $8 million per year in salaries to those officers.
According to sources, ESS was set up in 2007 under former Special Branch Retired Asst Commissioner of Police Mervyn Guiseppi.
Also in 2007 then Prime Minister Patrick Manning removed all army and police personnel from the official residence and opted for the services of the ESS officers which consisted of a large number of foreign nationals from Ghana and Nigeria.
The most junior officer at ESS is paid a monthly salary of $10,000 per month while senior officers receive as much as $25,000 per month.
The company was also given a building at 9 Mary Street, St Clair where administrative staff were housed. However, following the May 24 general election National Security adviser to the prime minister Griffith advised the new Prime Minister not to live at the official residence because of certain security breaches he had discovered with respect to officers of the ESS. Recently polygraph tests were ordered for the 90 officers assigned to the elite security unit and some officers who refused the polygraph test were instantly dismissed.
Executive director of Household, Diplomatic Centre and Security at the Prime Minister's Residence retired Brigadier Carl Alfonso told the media that it was an insult to have persons guard the Prime Minister who were not qualified to do so and welcomes the return of the army to carry out the main security functions both at the Prime Minister's residence, Diplomatic Centre and Office of the Prime Minister.
He confirmed that staff at ESS have been drastically reduced and pointed out that the name of the security company ESS will soon be changed to Office of the Prime Minister Security Services. Officers in that unit wear light blue shirts and dark blue trousers. Alfonso said that the uniform will also be altered and he has suggested that the colour be changed to tan. The name change of the security company is expected to take place in the next two weeks.
Contacted by the media, Griffith acknowledged that the change had in fact taken place, and said that he believes that the defence force is quite pleased with being returned to its rightful place, which is to be the primary element to guard the Prime Minister, in similar manner to what they do for His Excellency the President.
"I think the action by the previous government to dismiss the army and replace them with private security guards to protect a prime minister was a slap in the face to every law enforcement officer and every member of the defence force. I have nothing against the private security officers in ESS. In fact many are quite professional and well-trained, but you cannot and should not compare that to a trained soldier or police officer."
He added that even the special branch became a virtual secondary security element inside the compound as the previous administration gave the ESS virtual command of the compound, which he described as utter madness.
"The Prime Minister's primary security detail must always be the police and army, whether inside or outside of the residence. The welcome return of the military shows the utmost confidence that Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has in the defence force, as they have returned to what they are directed to do as enshrined in their role and function since inception," Griffith said.
He pointed out that the ESS will not be totally removed as they would provide a secondary support element for the army at post one and two, dealing with administration and searching duties, with the military showing primary presence at the gates, along with the required security team on a 24-hour basis.
He also revealed that official functions would also now have the military being at the doors of the Diplomatic Centre rather than the ESS. Sources have also stated that this major transformation of security would also drastically reduce the cost for maintenance of services at the residence, as the ESS strength would be reduced from an initial size of 90 to less than 40. More officers of the ESS are to be dismissed within the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Patrick Manning has described as retrograde the dismissal of the officers. Manning said he hoped Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and the people of Trinidad and Tobago "do not have cause to regret it." He warned: "Be careful, Kamla."
Manning said his response to media reports about the matter was "absolutely necessary." He said the ESS was implemented by the UNC Government in 2000 after then attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj led the charge for the execution of Dole Chadee and the implementation of the death penalty against the drug trade.
"He found the need for additional security for the AG's office and understandably sought to establish special security arrangements," Manning added.
Manning said Maharaj took steps in 2001 "by appointing Mr Mervyn Giuseppi, former assistant commissioner and Head of the Special Branch, to lead the way in the establishment of the unit." Manning said the unit "came into being in June 2002, six months into the new (PNM) administration." He said the unit continued at the AG's office until 2007, and when the threat to the office receded, "we recognised the need for specialised arrangements to improve the protection of the head of government."
Manning said his government retained the unit "to enhance the security of the state and to provide specialised protection for those at the helm. It was never a private security outfit. All personnel were employees of the state."
Manning said all the employees were nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. "There were no Ghanaians or Nigerians as the government falsely claims," he insisted.
He said the dismissal reminds him of the Nizam Mohammed claim that there were too many Africans in the Police Service.

July 20, 2011 issue
Trinidad & Tobago
PM replaces highly-paid security personnel
Port-of-Spain - Fifty highly paid security guards assigned to the Prime Minister's residence, Diplomatic Centre and Office of the Prime Minister were last Friday axed from duties which they had been carrying out since 2007. Forty of their colleagues from the security company Executive Security Services have been retained to carry out duties as support staff for army personnel who began official duties at the PM's residence, Diplomatic Centre and Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday. Those officers who were spared from being dismissed reportedly passed a polygraph test which was ordered by Executive Director of the Prime Minister's Household, and Diplomatic Centre, retired Brigadier Carl Alfonso and National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith. With the dismissal of the 50 officers the country will now be spared paying (TT) $8 million per year in salaries to those officers. According to sources, ESS was set up in 2007 under former Special Branch Retired Asst Commissioner of Police Mervyn Guiseppi. Also in 2007 then Prime Minister Patrick Manning removed all army and police personnel from the official residence and opted for the services of the ESS officers which consisted of a large number of foreign nationals from Ghana and Nigeria. The most junior officer at ESS is paid a monthly salary of $10,000 per month while senior officers receive as much as $25,000 per month. The company was also given a building at 9 Mary Street, St Clair where administrative staff were housed. However, following the May 24 general election National Security adviser to the prime minister Griffith advised the new Prime Minister not to live at the official residence because of certain security breaches he had discovered with respect to officers of the ESS. Recently polygraph tests were ordered for the 90 officers assigned to the elite security unit and some officers who refused the polygraph test were instantly dismissed. Executive director of Household, Diplomatic Centre and Security at the Prime Minister's Residence retired Brigadier Carl Alfonso told the media that it was an insult to have persons guard the Prime Minister who were not qualified to do so and welcomes the return of the army to carry out the main security functions both at the Prime Minister's residence, Diplomatic Centre and Office of the Prime Minister. He confirmed that staff at ESS have been drastically reduced and pointed out that the name of the security company ESS will soon be changed to Office of the Prime Minister Security Services. Officers in that unit wear light blue shirts and dark blue trousers. Alfonso said that the uniform will also be altered and he has suggested that the colour be changed to tan. The name change of the security company is expected to take place in the next two weeks. Contacted by the media, Griffith acknowledged that the change had in fact taken place, and said that he believes that the defence force is quite pleased with being returned to its rightful place, which is to be the primary element to guard the Prime Minister, in similar manner to what they do for His Excellency the President. "I think the action by the previous government to dismiss the army and replace them with private security guards to protect a prime minister was a slap in the face to every law enforcement officer and every member of the defence force. I have nothing against the private security officers in ESS. In fact many are quite professional and well-trained, but you cannot and should not compare that to a trained soldier or police officer." He added that even the special branch became a virtual secondary security element inside the compound as the previous administration gave the ESS virtual command of the compound, which he described as utter madness. "The Prime Minister's primary security detail must always be the police and army, whether inside or outside of the residence. The welcome return of the military shows the utmost confidence that Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has in the defence force, as they have returned to what they are directed to do as enshrined in their role and function since inception," Griffith said. He pointed out that the ESS will not be totally removed as they would provide a secondary support element for the army at post one and two, dealing with administration and searching duties, with the military showing primary presence at the gates, along with the required security team on a 24-hour basis. He also revealed that official functions would also now have the military being at the doors of the Diplomatic Centre rather than the ESS. Sources have also stated that this major transformation of security would also drastically reduce the cost for maintenance of services at the residence, as the ESS strength would be reduced from an initial size of 90 to less than 40. More officers of the ESS are to be dismissed within the next two weeks. Meanwhile, former prime minister Patrick Manning has described as retrograde the dismissal of the officers. Manning said he hoped Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and the people of Trinidad and Tobago "do not have cause to regret it." He warned: "Be careful, Kamla." Manning said his response to media reports about the matter was "absolutely necessary." He said the ESS was implemented by the UNC Government in 2000 after then attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj led the charge for the execution of Dole Chadee and the implementation of the death penalty against the drug trade. "He found the need for additional security for the AG's office and understandably sought to establish special security arrangements," Manning added. Manning said Maharaj took steps in 2001 "by appointing Mr Mervyn Giuseppi, former assistant commissioner and Head of the Special Branch, to lead the way in the establishment of the unit." Manning said the unit "came into being in June 2002, six months into the new (PNM) administration." He said the unit continued at the AG's office until 2007, and when the threat to the office receded, "we recognised the need for specialised arrangements to improve the protection of the head of government." Manning said his government retained the unit "to enhance the security of the state and to provide specialised protection for those at the helm. It was never a private security outfit. All personnel were employees of the state." Manning said all the employees were nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. "There were no Ghanaians or Nigerians as the government falsely claims," he insisted. He said the dismissal reminds him of the Nizam Mohammed claim that there were too many Africans in the Police Service.
Govt wants to win votes with social programs - Rowley
Port-of-Spain – Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley on Sunday said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was looking at State social work programmes as a tool to win the next elections. Following the General Council meeting at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, Rowley said the ghost gangs associated with these programmes existed mainly in United National Congress projects. Persad-Bissessar said on Friday that she has taken the Unemployment Relief Programme and the Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme into her portfolio, in order to control corruption and ensure equal distribution of work. Rowley said there was bound to be displeasure from the districts that relied heavily on these programmes for income, which lie mainly along the east-west corridor. Rowley said most of the people who relied on these programmes came from urban areas such as Laventille and deep Diego Martin, where job opportunities are limited. The other communities are located in rural areas but not as many people from these places need social programmes to make a living, as they are more exposed to activities like agriculture and fishing. Rowley said Persad-Bissessar's intention to ensure equality in the disbursement of jobs could take work away from those who need it. He said the government is also entirely focused on winning the next general election and accused the People's Partnership of seeing URP and CEPEP as the means by which the PNM has won elections in the past. "This is what has caused the Prime Minister to take the full responsibility on herself," Rowley said, adding that this is the first time in the history of Trinidad and Tobago that a Prime Minister has taken control of such programmes. "On what basis will the Prime Minister do these disbursements?" He said there has been no policy shift to allow the PM to disburse funds without going through the Ministry of Finance, as is procedure for the Office of the Prime Minister and all other ministries. Rowley was critical as well of the PM's decision to place part of the URP in the Ministry of Social Development, saying that ministry's role was to provide financial aid to those who could not access social work programmes because of age or disability. He questioned whether Social Development Minister, Glenn Ramadharsingh, will now be "hiring people" seeking financial help and said the programmes will now be used as a recruiting tool by the government. "The Prime Minister is laying the groundwork for serious discord among persons who rely on these programmes," Rowley said. Rowley had earlier lambasted the government for trying to "hoodwink" the population into thinking there has been a reduction in crime. Crime was a major agenda for the People's Partnership during the 2010 general elections campaign, he said. But there is now silence from many of the ministers who focused on it during that time, he said.
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