PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad Express):
Government pays British detective constables who are incorporated into Trinidad's law enforcement system an annual basic salary that is roughly eight times more than the annual basic salary remunerated to local police constables and even more than Police Commissioner Trevor Paul.
National Security Minister Martin Joseph said on Friday that the annual basic earnings for detective constables and detective chief superintendents, who were hired by Government, ranged from £42,000 to £104,000, respectively (TT$493,000 to TT$1.2 million).
Joseph was speaking at Friday's sitting of the House of Representatives, as he responded to a question delivered by Barataria/San Juan MP Dr. Fuad Khan.
Khan had asked Joseph to state the terms and conditions of engagement of the British law enforcement personnel who were currently assisting the police.
State matching salaries
Five months ago, Joseph had said that while the officers were working in Trinidad and Tobago, they would be paid salaries that they had obtained in the U.K. matched by Government and that they would be paid in pounds sterling.
Police constables in the United Kingdom earn just about TT$360,320 (£32,000) per year.
Local police constables earn, on average, a basic salary of TT$60,000 on an annual basis.
The decision to recruit 39 British law enforcement personnel was approved by Cabinet on February 16.
The officers were selected from Britain's 43 police forces and ranked between detective constable and detective chief superintendent.
However, only 27 officers have been signed for duty under the Special Anti-Crime Unit. They range in age from 38 to 59 and include three female officers, one of whom is a special reserve police (SRP).
Two former Assistant Commissioners of Police, Dave King and Ian Delbarre, were also recently appointed as SRPs at the same rank.
The contingent also includes one senior superintendent, three superintendents, one inspector, five sergeants and 15 corporals.
The officers came from an environment with a conviction rate for murder of 95 per cent, and have a total of 800 years of policing experience in criminal investigation and detection.
Remuneration for the officers does not include allowances or expenditure in support of spouses or dependents, and Martin added that their contracts were renewable for an extension of one year, after the officers had completed their two years of service.
