103 Leave of Absence Tuesday, October 17, 2006 SENATE Tuesday, October 17, 2006 The Senate met at 10.30 a.m. PRAYERS [MR VICE-PRESIDENT in the Chair] LEAVE OF ABSENCE Mr. Vice-President: Hon. Senators, I have granted leave of absence from today’s sitting to Sen. Harry Persad Mungalsingh who is ill. SENATOR’S APPOINTMENT Mr. Vice-President: Hon. Senators, I have received the following correspondence from Her Excellency Dr. Linda Savitri Baboolal, Acting President of the Republic of Trinidad Tobago: “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO By Her Excellency, DR. LINDA SAVITRI BABOOLAL Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. /s/ Linda Baboolal Acting President. TO: MR. WAYNE MUNRO WHEREAS Senator Harry Persad Mungalsingh is incapable of performing his duties as a Senator by reason of illness: NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINDA SAVITRI BABOOLAL, Acting President as aforesaid, acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, in exercise of the power vested in me by section 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, do hereby appoint you, WAYNE MUNRO, to be temporarily a member of the Senate, with immediate effect and continuing during the period of illness of the said Senator Harry Persad Mungalsingh. Given under my Hand and the Seal of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Office of the President, St. Ann’s, this 17th day of October, 2006.” 104 Oath of Allegiance Tuesday, October 17, 2006 OATH OF ALLEGIANCE Sen. Wayne Munro took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance as required by law. PAPERS LAID 1 Convention No. 81—Labour Inspection in Industry and Commerce, 1947. [The Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs (Sen. The Hon. Joan Yuille-Williams)] 2. Convention No. 150—Labour Administration: Role, Functions and Organization, 1978. [Sen. The Hon. J. Yuille-Williams] APPROPRIATION BILL (BUDGET) [Second Day] Order read for resuming adjourned debate on question [October 16, 2006]: That the Bill be now read a second time. Question again proposed. Mr. Vice-President: Those who spoke on the Bill were: Sen. The Hon. Conrad Enill, Minister in the Ministry of Finance and mover of the Bill; Sen. Wade Mark; Sen. Mary Kathleen King; Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, MP; Sen. The Hon. Danny Montano and Sen. Basharat Ali. The Minister of National Security (Sen. The Hon. Martin Joseph): Thank you very much, Mr. Vice-President. I am pleased to participate in this debate on “a Bill to provide for the service of Trinidad and Tobago for the financial year ended the 30th day of September, 2007.” When the hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance presented his budget in the other place and our Minister in the Ministry of Finance presented it in this place yesterday, he noted that the theme of this year’s budget is “Vision 2020, Moving Onward”. I am sure you are aware that Vision 2020 involves five development priorities, or sometimes referred to as development pillars. They are as follows: 1. Nurturing a caring society. 2. Governing effectively. 3. Facilitating effective business. 4. Developing innovative people. 5. Investing in sound infrastructure and environment. 105 Appropriation Bill (Budget) Tuesday, October 17, 2006 The development priority or pillar for which the Ministry of National Security has primary responsibility, is governing effectively. Four components comprise that pillar or priority: 1. The administration of justice. 2. Governance and institutional structures for development. 3. Law administration and legal affairs. 4. National security and public safety. The Ministry of National Security also has primary responsibility for national security and public safety. “Vision 2020: Operational Plan, 2007—2010” has the vision for effective government and is stated as follows: “Our vision: An efficient, accountable, participative and transparent Government that is committed to providing quality public institutions, promoting safety and security for all citizens, cooperating with local, regional and international bodies and ensuring justice and equality of all.” It goes on to say: “Our goals… 1. Our society and our Government will adhere to good governance principles and practices 2. Our Public Institutions will be high performance professional entities effectively and efficiently meeting the needs of all their clients 3. Trinidad and Tobago will have modern technologically advanced legal, regulatory and enforcement systems 4. All citizens will be assured of fair and equal justice 5. Trinidad and Tobago will be a safe and secure place to live, visit, do business and raise families” I move on again into the same “Operational Plan, 2007—2010” and the objectives and targets are as follows: “1. Significantly reduce crime by using a holistic, sustained approach that addresses the root causes of crime 2. Reduce the involvement of young people in crime 3. Increase the homicide detection rate 106 Appropriation Bill (Budget) Tuesday, October 17, 2006 [SEN. THE HON. M. JOSEPH] 4. Reduce recidivism through the rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders 5. Instil a culture of law and order and respect for human life among all citizens 6. Restore public trust and confidence in the Protective Services 7. Create an integrated national security infrastructure which ensures that the issues of crime, public safety and national security are addressed on a holistic and sustained basis 8. Protect the borders of Trinidad and Tobago from illegal entry and exit of people and products 9. Secure Trinidad and Tobago's interest through international, regional and local defence efforts 10. Protect all citizens from the hazards of natural and manmade disasters” The targeted outcomes are: “● Number of Serious Crimes (especially murders) reduced • Homicide detection rate increased • Gang related activity reduced • Number of youth offenders reduced • Recidivism rate reduced • Number of domestic and industrial accidents reduced • Number of road accidents reduced • Illegal entry of goods/products reduced • An integrated National Security System in operation • New fire stations constructed at Sangre Grande, Couva, San Fernando, Rio Claro, Mayaro, Arouca, Tunapuna, Four Roads, Point Fortin, Siparia, Princes Town, Belmont, Chaguanas, Black Rock and Plymouth • New police stations constructed at Carenage, Matelot, Manzanilla, Maracas Bay, Oropouche, Matura, Moruga, La Brea, Arima, St. Clair, Roxborough and Old Grange • Anti-terrorist Unit established • New prison complex in Tobago constructed 107 Appropriation Bill (Budget) Tuesday, October 17, 2006 • Multilevel Correctional Complex established in Central Trinidad • National Disaster Plan revised • Public education campaign on disaster preparedness conducted • Machine-readable passports system implemented” I am saying this because we have a clear road map; clearly identified targets to be accomplished between now in the fiscal year starting 2007 for which this debate is taking place, and by 2010. It is a clear road map. Also, while you did not hear me identify reduced crime by this per cent or that per cent, those things will be filled in, in each year from 2007 to 2010. I am saying this because yesterday you heard some criticisms being made about this Government as it relates to its planning; how it is preparing to deal with taking the country towards 2020. So we have a clear, identified operational plan for the years 2007 to 2010. Sen. Mark: Is that a secret document? Sen. The Hon. M. Joseph: What is a secret document? Sen. Mark: We have not seen a copy of the operation document. Sen. The Hon. M. Joseph: You will get it in due course. It is against that backdrop that I propose, during the time allotted to me this morning, to address the progress made towards these issues that are confronting us; the challenges faced; where we fell short and what we propose to accomplish. I heard some commentators criticize the Prime Minister on his budget presentation by saying he did not spend sufficient time on crime. Hopefully, I will spend sufficient time on the Government’s approach to dealing with this very challenging issue that faces us. This Government has indicated clearly its intention of sparing no effort in ensuring that this country is provided with a level of security and safety that our citizens deserve. This Government has also indicated that it recognizes that the only thing in the way of allowing our citizens to enjoy their fullest potential to be able to enjoy all the fruits of what this economy is generating, is to provide an acceptable level of security and safety. But we also recognize that in order to do that there is a fundamental requirement, an indispensable requirement. 10.45 a.m. If we want good law enforcement we must have good law enforcement institutions. The institutions are not just the buildings; it also requires individuals who are responsible for law enforcement. We have to build law enforcement 108 Appropriation Bill (Budget) Tuesday, October 17, 2006 [SEN. THE HON. M. JOSEPH] institutions. As a result, we have made bold the intention of transforming the police service which is the primary law enforcement agency in Trinidad and Tobago. In that regard, you have recognized that the Government continues to ensure that national security is adequately funded. In 2005, the allocation to national security was 7.8 per cent of the total budget; in 2006, 8.2 per cent of the total budget and in this fiscal year, 2007, it is also 8 per cent of the budget. The Prime Minister indicated again in his presentation: “functional classification, …12.5 per cent of the budget will be spent on education; a similar percentage on social development and poverty alleviation, 8 per cent on national security, 6 per cent on health and 6 per cent on infrastructure. It is instructive to see what kind of expenditures other countries allocate in terms of national security. Country Year Percentage Barbados 2004 3.2 2005 3.8 Jamaica 2004 4 2005 5 2006 6.6 Canada 2004 8 2005 4.4 United States 2004 14 2005 11.4 United Kingdom 2004 4.9 2005 5.7 Trinidad and Tobago 2004 8.6 2005 8.5 2006 8 We are consistently investing in national security and public safety so that we could improve safety.