00:00At this time, 1,400 working police vehicles. And as we're speaking now, the likelihood of one of them going
00:17down or two is possible.
00:19Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander as he responded to a question from Opposition MP and former National Security Minister Stuart
00:27Young during the Standing Finance Committee's examination of the allocation of just over $3 billion to the Trinidad and Tobago
00:34Police Service.
00:35The opposition saw details about the maintenance costs, which rose from $25 million to a revised estimate of $30 million
00:43in fiscal 2026.
00:45Remember, we are looking at 22 companies.
00:5022 approved companies.
00:5222 approved companies.
00:53Okay, and might I ask for a list of those companies? You could provide that in writing.
01:04We'll take that into consideration.
01:06Later, Minister Alexander made clear what information he can and cannot provide in response to a question from Opposition MP
01:14and former Finance Minister Colm Imbut.
01:16Obviously, we have no issues with providing the buildings that have been rented, at least some of them, that is
01:23rented by law enforcement.
01:25But the vehicles, Mr. Chairman, we think that it will be against national security if we were to displace some
01:32of those vehicles for members of the public.
01:35It will offer us no advantage at all.
01:37No, no, no, no problem.
01:38MP Imbut clarified his question.
01:41Take out vehicles rented and leased for covert operations.
01:46And could I get a list of the rental and lease of vehicles for non-covert operations?
01:52Who are you renting from?
01:54That's all I want to know.
01:56The question, our member, will be considered and the appropriate response will come.
02:03Whatever.
02:05Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzalez took note of the fact that it was not the first time the Homeland Security
02:10Minister responded to a question by saying it would be considered.
02:16No, Mr. Chair.
02:17This is very important to this exercise.
02:19What did you just tell me?
02:20I said no, Mr. Chair.
02:22No to what?
02:23No, no, I'm just explaining something.
02:26And I'm making the point, Mr. Chair.
02:28Can you please allow me to make the point?
02:29Because this exercise is one of accountability and transparency to admonish the minister.
02:36No, I'm not admonishing anyone.
02:37I'm not admonishing anyone, Mr. Chair.
02:39The chairman of the committee, Speaker Singh, an attorney at law, referred to a past court ruling.
02:44From that, you would understand that there are polycentric considerations.
02:52There's a way to address that.
02:54But if you get the list, you're unsatisfied with it, but the Supreme North could advise you on the alternative
03:01methods of addressing that.
03:03Police Commissioner Alistair Guevara was seated next to the Homeland Security Minister to provide assistance as the minister responded to
03:10the questions from the opposition.
03:12Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
03:14Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
