Government has allocated $6 million to refurbish the Commissioner of Police’s official residence, which Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander described as affected by mould and currently uninhabitable, the Trinidad Guardian reported. The allocation came under scrutiny during the Standing Finance Committee’s examination of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s $3.049 billion allocation. Arouca/Lopinot MP Marvin Gonzales questioned Alexander about the proposed work, its scope and the arrangements for carrying it out. The residence is within the St James Barracks and Police Training Academy compound on Western Main Road, St James. The expenditure is listed under upgrade works to the commissioner’s residence in the Infrastructure Development Fund. According to the Guardian’s account of the exchange, proposed improvements include roof repairs, electrical and plumbing work, and flooring. Alexander also said the swimming pool required attention, describing algae, green water and a mosquito problem on the compound. The minister said the building had accommodated previous commissioners but needed intervention because of its condition. Asked whether anyone who did not hold the office of commissioner had occupied it, he said he could not recall. Alexander told the committee that a proposal had been received from the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. He confirmed that Udecott would serve as project manager and manage procurement for the refurbishment. The $6 million residence allocation forms part of the police service’s $44.404 million development provision through the Infrastructure Development Fund for 2027. Another $186.118 million is proposed through the Consolidated Fund, bringing the combined police development provision to approximately $230.5 million. A separate $20 million allocation covers upgrades to the Police Administration Building. Alexander said Udecott had recommended moving officers out to allow that work to proceed. The relocation was not complete, and neither procurement nor construction work had begun on that project. The committee also examined staffing and overtime. Alexander said the service expected to recruit 800 officers during fiscal 2027, arguing that additional personnel would help reduce dependence on overtime. The overtime provision stands at $458 million, compared with a revised $500 million in 2026. Alexander acknowledged that some officers still had outstanding claims to submit and indicated that the service would return for additional funding if the provision proved insufficient. The residence refurbishment is therefore one element of a wider police spending programme. The committee’s examination established the proposed scope and Udecott’s management role, while the minister’s account placed the condition of the official property at the centre of the case for repairs.
