National Security Minister supports budget that cuts police finances
The budget for the new financial year was approved this afternoon just before four o’clock when Prime Minister Dean Barrow wrapped up the two day debate. The ayes came only from the government side since across the aisle members were absent after having ripped through the budget on Thursday. Government projects to raise in revenue and grants eight hundred and eleven million dollars and to spend eight hundred and seventy six million. The shortfall of sixty-four million dollars will be covered by taxes. News Five’s Jose Sanchez went back to the House today where the debate did not have the luster it had on Thursday.
Jose Sanchez Reporting
The budget debate continued today with the absence of all opposition members. The Minister of National Security was circumspect about his portfolio but sure of his Ministry’s way forward.
Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“Whether it’s Carlos Perdomo as minister or some other good UDP leader that we have in this house, it doesn’t matter. The policies will continue and success will be met.”
During Thursday’s session of the debate, Cordel Hyde implied successes cannot be met while the budget has taken away necessary funds from the Ministry of National Security.
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Leader PUP (March 26th, 2010)
Now dah no one or two units of departments get cut inna di ministry ah national security; dah noh one or two, dah all ah dehn. National forensic service will get cut, forensic medicine unit will get cut, anti-narcotic unit will get cut, scenes of crime unit will get cut, crime intelligence unit will get cut. You think I done? Cause I noh done; dah more. Prosecutions branch will get cut, traffic branch get cut, CYDP get cut, gang unit get cut, national coast guard get cut, police training school; dehn noh get cut bredda, dehn get hack. One point four million dollars from di recurring budget from police training school gone.
Carlos perdomo
“As long as I am minister the Crooks Report will not sit on a shelf. Every month we have a review body. Recently we appointed a policing policy and standard board made up mainly of civilian leaders in the community. And they will meet on Monday to begin their first business session in which civilian and ministerial personalities will be able to sit and direct the traffic at the police department.”
Cordel Hyde
But yoh know which unit or department inna di Ministry ah National Security noh get cut? Di prisons; di prison noh get cut, dehn get wah raise. Dehn get wah raise. Dah deh dehn want di people dehn go. Dehn prefer fi spend five thousand dollars fi feed and shelter each prisoner every year rather dan keep dehn out ah prison inna di first place.
Seven point two million dollars fi prison. Dehn noh ask no question, just transfer dah money to Kolbe .
Carlos Perdomo
“I never hear them say nothing about the B.D.F., I never hear them say nothing about the Coast Guard. I never hear them say nothing about the forensic. I never hear them say anything about the Kolbe. I never hear them say nothing about the Immigration. And while we need to improve those ministries, the other side could not get up and talk about the racket that we were, that they were involved with when they were in power. And when they criticized the police force about crooked cops and rogue cops, let me tell you something yes we have rogue cops in the police force. But the People’s United Party by percentage has more rogue politicians than the police force has rogue cops.”
Cordel Hyde
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Leader, PUP
“You would think the budget for national security would have gone up… you would think. But the budget of national security has gone down. So if you weren’t solving crime with the money you were getting last year, how will you solve it this year with less? I want figure dat out.”
Carlos Perdomo
“I am proud to support this budget. Amen.”
When we checked today, Harold Crooks, the author of the police report referred to by Minister Perdomo, had still not been located. Crooks is on the run and has reportedly fled Jamaica. He is wanted for sex related offences.
I agree with Minister Hyde, but the truth ah di matter is, “No money noh deh”. Dehn all confuse an noh know weh fu cut from now. Ah hope dehn could tek wah lee advice from wah dibby dibby person like me. Stop di lease buildings fu accomadate office buildings, dat might save unu wah lee moni. Mek di public servants dehn weh have access to government vehicles turn een dehn keys at di end ah di day soh dehn can’t jallificate noh moh, U.D.P, Unu stop di cry over spilt milk and stop point fingers at each other?. Unu get to work and do di right thing fu wi people dem. Mr. Hyde, ah can’t sey that dis ya man noh give a sh-t, he dah noh di only wan weh noh know ih a– fram ih elbow. Minista Perdomo haf to work wid weh ih gat lef, even if ih mean more Belizeans dead fram hunga or by di idiots dem weh dun di kill wan anada, and dat da wah damn shame an disgrace. Mek dehn continue cut and increase tax weh wi cant pay, wi deh eena more iminent danger and di (Jackasses) ah sorry, Donkey’s definetely noh wah know weh fu do dehn. Dehn da di same wan dem who sey that majority ah Belizeans POOR, instead ah try fu fix di deegan problem by creating jobs and preparing di country fu di Tourisim Industry eena di right places dem an encourage Investors and fu secure safety through-out di entire country, dehn just dig di damn hole deeper an deeper. Guess who wah drop eena di bloody whole weh dehn di dig?. Da we di wans dem who dehn di feed wid fu dehn poverty pills wildehn di get big, fat, an healthy, but GOD noh like ugly.