The increased budgetary allocation for security services under the Local Government Ministry came under heavy scrutiny yesterday with opposition parliamentarians questioning why private security for the two officials is estimated at $7M.
PNCR-1G MP Aubrey Norton said he had trouble understanding how the private security for Minister Kellawan Lall and former Minister Harripersaud Nokta could be higher than the allocation for the entire ministry, but despite repeated attempts to draw a response from the Minister there was none.
Lall, flooded with questions about the cost of the security, said his office previously had one eight-hour shift and now the allocations are to cover security for Permanent Secretary (PS) Nigel Dharamlall and for Nokta.
Norton, unsatisfied with this response, pressed the Minister, while saying the figures were not adding up.
But Lall insisted that the mathematics was simple. “I’m not suggesting anything; I am saying definitely that this increased security cost is for the PS and former Minister Nokta…the other funds are for security at my office for an eight-hour shift.”
Norton also questioned how much exactly are security guards going to be earning based on the allocations, but the Minister said that it has to go to tender before he could provide such an answer.
As the consideration of the 2011 Estimates of Expenditure continued with a focus on Lall’s Ministry, opposition members questioned other security allocations and Lall explained that due to unforeseen circumstances last year the ministry was forced to consider moving from unarmed guards to armed guards this year and hence the increased allocations.
PNCR-1G MP Deborah Backer jumped on this explanation, asking what happened to the optimal level of security that the Minister of Home Affairs talked about in his budget speech last week. “Security is at an optimal level. Why are we now moving to armed guards,” Backer asked to loud endorsement from opposition members.
The issue of contract employees attached to the Ministry also came up and Lall was asked by Backer why the sharp $10M increase in the allocations.
She also called on him to state the positions which are to be contracted, in addition to the emoluments for the highest and lowest employee.
The Minister noted that the positions included those of the PS; confidential secretaries; personal assistants, drivers; and coordinators. The lowest salary was set at $46,000 and highest at $445,000.
Based on this disclosure, Norton asked whether Lall is concerned that the use of contracted workers is widening the gap between salaries in the Ministry, but Lall simply answered “No.”
He said that the highest paid are permanent secretaries and according to him, “permanent secretaries are hard working people who deserve good salaries.”
Lall was also questioned about an allocation of $1.2M under “other expenses” and he noted that this was for internet services. He explained that the ministry intends to create a website and a database while remaining funds would cover payments for internet access at the Ministry.
Asked about market tarmacs and the specific allocations set aside, he noted that the Plaisance Market tarmac is to be built at $17.5M; Buxton at $4.2M; Haslington at $20M.
Norton also questioned why the government has not invested in malls instead of tarmacs, in addition to why no consideration was given for drainage at the Plaisance market upon completion of the tarmac, but Lall said he had no opinion on the matter.
