Stories by Akash Samaroo
Lead Editor-Politics
Government has allocated $6 million to refurbish the Commissioner of Police’s official residence, which Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says is mould-infested and currently uninhabitable.
The minister said the swimming pool on the compound is also in need of attention as he described it as “mosquito-infested” and green.
Alexander disclosed the condition of the property while responding to Arouca/Lopinot MP Marvin Gonzales during the Standing Finance Committee’s examination of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s $3.049 billion allocation yesterday.
The proposed expenditure appears under “Upgrade Works to the Commissioner of Police Residence” in the Infrastructure Development Fund.
“That’s not the mould-infested building?” Alexander asked when the allocation was brought up.
Questioned about the scope of the project, he said the building had been used by previous police commissioners but required intervention to address its condition.
“If they had done an investigation, they would have noticed that the building is ‘moulded’,” he said.
“And as a result of that, that needs to be changed.”
The exchange identified roof repairs, electrical and plumbing works, and flooring among the proposed upgrades.
The condition of the pool was also brought up by Alexander.
“And the greenness of the pool,” Alexander said.
“The what?” Gonzales asked?
“The ‘moulds’,” Alexander responded, “and the algae in the pool. The mosquito-infested pool.”
Gonzales also asked whether the residence had ever been occupied by someone who did not hold the office of commissioner of police.
“I can’t recall,” Alexander replied.
The discussion then returned to the proposed works and the arrangements for carrying them out.
Asked how far the TTPS had progressed with planning and implementation, Alexander said a proposal had been received from the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott).
He confirmed that Udecott would act as project manager and, when pressed by Gonzales, also confirmed that the company would manage procurement.
The official residence is located within the St James Barracks/Police Training Academy compound on Western Main Road, St James.
The residence project comes against the backdrop of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s repeated public expressions of support for Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro.
During a visit to Tobago last week, at the recently constructed Signal Hill police post, Persad-Bissessar described Guevarro as “the best Commissioner of Police I have ever worked with.”
The $6 million is part of the TTPS’s $44.404 million development provision through the Infrastructure Development Fund for 2027.
A further $186.118 million is proposed through the Consolidated Fund, bringing combined police development funding to approximately $230.5 million.
Alexander also disclosed that UDeCOTT had recommended relocating officers from the Police Administration Building to facilitate upgrades, for which $20 million is allocated in 2027. He said the move was not yet complete and confirmed that neither the works nor procurement had started.
“The recommendation is that it be decanted,” he said, explaining why refurbishment had not progressed as anticipated.
Meanwhile, Alexander said the TTPS expects to recruit 800 officers during fiscal 2027, arguing that strengthening manpower would help reduce reliance on overtime.
The service has a $458 million overtime provision, down from a revised $500 million in 2026.
However, he acknowledged that some officers had yet to submit outstanding claims and, when asked whether the allocation would be sufficient, replied, “If it is not sufficient, we will return.”
Police stations, specialist units get funding boost
• Police stations and buildings: $26 million, up from $4 million in the revised 2026 estimates.
• Police works in Tobago: $3.5 million.
• Vehicle purchases: $20 million, up from $9.7 million.
• Equipment: $20 million, up from $18.5 million.
• Special Operations/Counter Home and Business Invasion Task Force: $12 million, compared with $825,000.
• Coastal and Riverine Patrol Unit: $10 million, up from $914,000.
• Police Administration Building upgrades: $20 million allocated for 2027.
• Commissioner of Police’s official residence: $6 million for refurbishment.
• TTPS overtime: $458 million, down from the revised $500 million in 2026.
