THE Tobago Business Chamber is hoping to hear an announcement of a localised police force for Tobago in the THA's budget presentation on June 24.
Chief Secretary and Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy Farley Augustine is expected to present the 2024/2025 fiscal package in the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough, from 10am.
At a function on June 18, Augustine said the presentation - the third of his administration - will focus heavily on human capital development.
He added this year's budget request would be kept within the limits of the Dispute Resolution Commission's recommendations (between 4.03 and 6.9 per cent) which were accepted by the Parliament.
'So you can expect to remain within that per centage framework,' he had said.
In its 2023/2024 budget, the THA requested $4.54 billion from central government but got $2.585 billion to manage its affairs.
Earlier this month, the THA got a further $50 million from the mid-year review to deal with the costs associated with the February 7 oil spill, which affected some 15 kilometres along the island's south-western coast.
Augustine is also expected to make a statement with respect to the setting up of a police force in Tobago to deal with the island's worsening crime situation.
At an instalment of the Conversations with the Prime Minister on May 23 at the Scarborough Library, Dr Rowley said the government was giving consideration to a request from the THA to create a municipal-type police force under the assembly to deal with crime in Tobago.
He added Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, has been asked to look into Tobago's ability to have its own localised police unit.
Tobago Business Chamber chairman Martin George believes the setting up of a Tobago regional police service will help to reduce crime on the island.
George said while crime has not yet sullied the image of Tobago as badly as he believes it has in Trinidad, there are still concerns about the proliferation of illegal drugs and guns in Tobago.
He added the chamber has also called repeatedly for scanners to be implemented at the Port of Spain and Scarborough ports along with
sniffer dogs and undercover police officers on the ferries.
George said the police officers must be equipped with a list of the names and photographs of wanted criminals who may come to try to hide out in Tobago or seek to try to play their evil trade.
'In this regard, we propose that the minister and the government introduce legislation to be able to create a Tobago regional police service (TRPS) in much the same way as there are the municipal police outfits in the various borough corporations in Trinidad,' he told Newsday via WhatsApp.
'This TRPS can then work in collaboration with and alongside the TTPS to ensure that we stamp out the scourge of crime and criminality in Tobago so that Tobago can once again become a safe place and safe space.'
George said the chamber is also hoping to hear about measures to improve inter-island transport.
'The Business Chamber has repeatedly indicated that
