This refers to the approved budgetary
allocation of public expenditure dedicated to protecting and preserving the
nation's assets; its people, its property, its peace. Resource Preservation
comprises funds, 10.01%
of the nation’s total expenditure as reported by the Auditor General 2018 and 9.45% in the revised
estimates 2019 and 10.83% up by 22.97% in 2020 published estimates by
the Ministry of Finance, to enact the policies of the Ministry of National Security, its arms and divisions, along with
the crime interjection strategies of the Police
Service, whose expenditure is independently control by the Police
Commissioner. While the Defence Forces policies and funding are administered
and overseen by the Ministry. The non-executive President of the nation is the
Commander and Chief of the Defence Forces, further subdivided into the
Regiment, the Coast Guard and Air Guard, with reserves and other specialty arms
and initiatives.
News from the previous period
The Regiment or Army participated in joint
Army Police patrols in local high crime areas or hotspots and disaster relieve activities
in foreign territories. The Coast Guard, while waiting on delivery of new
Offshore Patrol Vehicles OPVs secured by external loans, carried out numerous
stop and search exercises with the equipment presently in service, resulting in
seizures and arrest of illegal drugs and traffickers. The Air Guard, which purchased
four new helicopters in 2010 via a twenty-year loan, assisted the other
divisions from above, using drones and fixed wing assets, by engaging in
support missions. Other areas and initiatives such as; Strategic Services
Agency, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Information
and Communication Technology Unit, Transit Police Unit, National Crime
Prevention Programme, etc., all have specific public service mandates.
The Police Service, with its new commissioner, worked hard on its public image and to win and maintain the citizenry trust, with regular media briefings; public safety tips and updates on current investigations. Noting that, the arrest of officers allegedly engaged in criminal activity seemed to have had the greatest effect on the service's image. The Prison Service, with over 2500 officers of various ranks and responsibilities, manages several detention facilities throughout the nation. The Fire Service, with over 62 firefighters specially trained, as Paramedics and 24 ambulances are strategically located throughout four divisions nationwide and utilizes a 990-emergency call system.
Within this current period
The Defence Force, with its estimated 20.63% of the total
Resource Preservation funding for 2020, executes its policies utilizing its subdivisions. The Army
will continue its joint patrols with the Police in crime hotspots and during
periods of heighten public activities, such as Christmas and Carnival, in
spited of uncertainties in law regarding powers of arrest and engaging in gun
fights. The Coast Guard should deploy its new OPVs both for training exercises
and interdiction in the protection of the nation’s ocean borders. The Air
Guard, in need of more resources, grounded its Helicopters and is seeking to
purchase more Drones, both equipment and trained officers, will continue to
assist in search and rescue activities and crime fighting, as needed. Other
areas and initiatives in need of specific attention in this current period are
the Forensic Science Centre and a DNA database to strengthen detection and
prosecutions.
The Police Service with an estimated 40.58% of the total Resource Preservation funding for 2020, having settled on and ultimately, appointing a permanent commissioner with the comforts and powers of tenure, must continue its primary mission to protect and serve, employ crime deterrence strategies, gathering evidence for presentation to the courts and seeking persons of interest. The Prison Service, with 12.18% of the total Resource Preservation budget for 2020, places great emphasis on rehabilitation, via talent training and life coping skills. The Fire Service, with 9.23% of the total Resource Preservation budget for 2020, also in need of modern equipment must focus on recruitment and training.
Looking forward
The funds spent and allocated for both the
Ministry of National Security and the Police Service cannot point to any
significant successes, which if expanded, via more funding, would reduce crime
statistics. Many voices agree that the bottleneck is the justice system and
that disposing of violent cases, using video conferencing for preliminary inquiries
resulting with minimum time spend detained, in jail or remanded, with less
exposure to wrong influences or elements, will for the falsely accused allow
the recovery of a productive law-abiding life, while starting the guilty
person's rehabilitation in Prisons or on Parole.
Rationale
T.A.J & Associates Company Limited uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
