PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Trinidad Express) — Reports of massive pilferage of cold cuts and dry goods are said to be linked to the hefty food bill at the T&T Regiment.

The Sunday Express learned that Minister of National Security Gary Griffith is set to order a full review into the $40 million allocation to the T&T Regiment for the purchase of food for the period October 2014 to September 2015.

Griffith is also expected to review the $16 million allocation to the Police Service for providing meals to accused who are kept at police stations before being taken to court. A portion of the allocation, the Sunday Express learned, is also used to cater for police officers who work extra duties during major events.

A monthly meal allowance of $580 is paid to all police officers except to the acting and Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Told of the reports of pilferage in the T&T Regiment, public affairs officer Cpt Stefan Affonso told the Sunday Express that any form of pilferage is dealt with.

“A board of enquiry is held to ascertain the facts of the matter then an appropriate course of action is taken. Pilferage is not condoned. We do not turn a blind eye to it at all. We have implemented particular forms to keep a record of food stock,” Affonso said.

Hearty eaters

Official documents obtained by the Sunday Express list the breakdown of the $97 million expenditure for food by the various divisions of the ministry as follows:

•T&T Regiment — TT$40 million (2,680 officers);

•Coast Guard — TT$24 million (1,557 officers);

•Police Service — TT$16 million (accused waiting to be charged or taken to court);

•Air Guard — TT$10 million (420 officers);

•Immigration Detention Centre — TT$5 million (estimated 110 individuals);

•Volunteer Defence Force — TT$1.8 million (reserves: full-time 400 and part-time 224);

•Cadet Force—TT$324,300                                                         

Speaking under strict anonymity, a top military source said: “The figures could never add up because meals are not supposed to be given to all of the soldiers. For TT$40 million to be spent on food that means that each soldier is being fed three rations per day.That is not taking place. There is need for an investigation. A lot of cold cut meats are being invoiced but not cooked. If an impromptu stock count is conducted to match the invoices submitted heads are going to roll. An audit into the purchase of food at the T&T Regiment is long overdue.”

It was Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley who first queried the funding to the Regiment whose food bill increased from TT$27 million to TT$40 million, while the Air Guard was also allocated TT$10 million.

The Ministry of National Security was allocated TT$2.6 billion out of the TT$64 billion fiscal package.

Rowley questioned the figure during the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee set up to examine budgetary allocations to the various ministries in the Parliament Chamber on Tuesday at the International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.

The Sunday Express was told that Rowley’s queries may very well have creditability as military sources said rations are only supposed to be fed to single soldiers three times per day.

The ministry source said married men and soldiers, who have permission to live out, both receive a ration allowance of between TT$30 to TT$50 per day.

Accused fed by relatives

With respect to the allocation to the Police Service for accused persons, the Sunday Express learned that on many occasions meals are provided by relatives.

In fact, on a daily basis at the San Fernando Police Station, relatives are seen with packages containing boxes of food and clothing for the accused.

“Most of the times relatives bring meals for the accused. There is a caterer but the meals are of a poor quality. They may get one slice of bread with peanut butter; the meals are nothing substantial. There have been occasions when I have told caterers that they need to bring better food because they are being paid,” a Sgt told the Sunday Express.

Contacted yesterday, Griffith, who was en-route to China to finalise plans for the purchase of intelligence equipment for the National Operations Centre, said the allocations for food warranted an investigation.

“Just by questions raised alone it warrants an investigation. It would be the appropriate thing to do and I will be reviewing the allocations on my return.

“I have to ensure a proper competitive process is being followed.

“It’s a matter of making sure all items purchased are in stock and the proper procurement process is being used.”

In relation to the TT$16 million allocation to feed accused, Griffith said he will be liaising with acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams for clarity on the specific allocation.

However, Williams told the Sunday Express that the allocation for the accused was an estimate.

“A budget is about estimating. It is about providing in case something happens.

It is not necessarily only for accused. A substantial portion is used for the accused and the rest is to [be] used to feed police officers when there are major events. The State must provide for accused. The State has a responsibility to feed them,” Williams said.

Told that on many occasions meals are supplied by relatives of accused, Williams said: “A police officer may bend the rule for someone on a special diet but the law states that the Police Service must feed them (accused) once they are in custody.”

The menu

The rations, military sources told the Sunday Express, include a basic menu that comprises of some of the following options:

•Breakfast:

 Bread or bake with one side which includes: sausage, eggs, plantains, tuna or corned beef

•Lunch: 

Pelau, roti, rice and saltfish, provision with stew chicken or beef or saltfish or cow heel soup (one of the dishes is cooked per day)

•Dinner: 

Light soup or extra food from lunch. This meal is called playbacks.

 Macaroni or potato pie is served on occasion.

TRINIDAD EXPRESS