00:00Finance Minister Dave Tanku declared that the UNC-led government
00:03had been able to effectively arrest the crime problem over the last seven months,
00:08including a drop in homicides.
00:10Despite the PNM's deliberate sabotage, Mr. Speaker,
00:13our plans and policies are working.
00:16And here's the proof.
00:18From January to July 2026,
00:22serious reported crimes fell by 1,270 incidents
00:28compared to the same period in 2020.
00:32There were 118 fewer murders compared to the same period in 2024.
00:39He said, according to the Prime Minister,
00:41there would be no safe haven for criminals in this country
00:43and said that the police will be given more effective digital tools to combat crime.
00:49Special attention, according to the Finance Minister,
00:51will be placed on enhanced security measures at the nation's prisons.
00:55The government is also progressing $29.9 million
00:59behind the Golden Grove Prison Perimeter Security Upgrade Project
01:04while strengthening security.
01:06To offset high attrition and staffing shortages in the prison service,
01:11246 prison officers have been recruited and a further 250 to follow.
01:16National security was allocated the third highest amount in the budget of $7.3 billion
01:21with education and training getting the highest budget allocation of $8.033 billion.
01:27Mark Lassant, TV6 News.
