Caption: Roger Alexander. Photo: T&T Parliament

By Alicia Chamely

JUST under 18% of Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) officers are equipped with body cameras while on active duty says Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander.

Furthermore, Alexander said the $24 million contract for 3,000 body cameras has been terminated.

He was answering a question during Friday’s sitting of the Senate at the Red House, Port of Spain.

Alexander was answering questions submitted by Opposition Senator Vishnu Dhanpaul regarding the status of the body cameras ordered by the previous government and the amount of body cameras currently in active use.

The minister said, “TTPS tendered 3,000 body-worn cameras in accordance with the regulations established by the Office of Procurement Regulations. A letter of awards was subsequently submitted in August 2024 and was issued to a contractor in the sum of $24,965,310.”

He said, “At present, that contract has since been terminated.”

Questioned as to why the contract was terminated, Alexander answered, “In a bid to save millions of dollars that contract was in fact terminated.”

Alexander said, however, equipping officers with body cameras was still a priority of the government.

He said, “Body-worn cameras are part of the tools for a police officer, so yes.”

Responding to Dhanpaul’s question as to what percentage of the TTPS use body cameras on active duty, Alexander said, “As of June 10, 2025, approximately 17.9% of the TTPS use body-worn cameras while on active duty.”

Alexander said, “These body-worn cameras are assigned to the undermentioned division branches, sections and units of the TTPS: Divisional Task Force, Inter-Agency Task Force, Emergency Response Patrol Branch, Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch and the ten divisions.”

Alexander said, “It is important to note that the body-worn cameras assigned to these units and divisions are not assigned to personal officers.”

“As a result the daily use of these devices may vary,” he said.