PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Police Commissioner Trevor Paul has made it clear that police officers assigned to work specifically for the ICC Cricket World Cup locally will not be paid extra duty allowances.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Port-of-Spain, Paul said because the cricketing body entered into an arrangement with government, by extension, police officers assigned to work during the World Cup will be working for the State.

But he explained that the 60 officers assigned to work with regional counterparts in various Caribbean islands for the event will be paid US$30 daily, plus salaries and possibly overtime.

These officers will also be given free accommodation and meals, Paul said.

Entitled to allowances

Commissioner Paul's press conference was in response to claims by president of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Corporal Cedric Neptune, that lawmen were in fact permitted to collect extra duty allowances for duties performed in Trinidad and Tobago during the Cricket World Cup.

Neptune said the event was of 'a private nature' and officers were entitled to their allowances.

"It is a private organisation making the arrangements, so obviously officers must be paid extra duty," said Neptune.

But Commissioner Paul insisted that the question of extra duty does not arise.

He explained that extra duty was paid when officers volunteered to carry out their services on behalf of a promoter.

"But in this case, officers are carrying out their functions on behalf of the State," Paul reiterated.

Neptune also said that the association wrote to the commissioner's office, expressing their concerns, but had gotten no response from the police chief.

But Paul said members of the association were present at a February 7 meeting planned specifically to deal with Cricket World Cup issues and no concerns for overtime or extra duties were raised.