National Security Minister Stuart Young says repairs are being conducted by the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) to fix non-functional CCTV cameras across the country, which have proven to hinder law enforcement in their investigation into criminal activity.

He made the statement while responding to an urgent question from Opposition MP Dr. Roodal Moonilal in the House of Representatives, over the Police Commissioner’s revelation that over 800 of the CCTV cameras were not working.

“I am not going to stand here and give the number of cameras that are or are not operational- yes it is correct that a number a not operational,” he said.

While the Minister declined to directly confirm or deny the exact number of cameras that are non-functional, he said: “It is unacceptable that we don’t have it at least over 80% operational.”

He said the matter is being resolved between TSTT and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

“We have worked out an arrangement recently with TSTT, where we are paying them a sum of money- there are currently in the process of repairing cameras which can be repaired, removing cameras which have been destroyed intentionally and otherwise and getting the system to a better level of operationality (sic)”

The Minister went on to reveal that the repairs are a temporary fix, as government is working to introduce a new camera system which he said “will see us saving over $300 million”

The system would have already been installed had it not been to stalls due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he told the House on Friday.

The new system, he added, trumps a previous arrangement for CCTV cameras under the People’s Partnership in which he alleged taxpayer paid over $200 million for non-functional cameras

In a supplemental question, Oropouche East MP Dr. Moonilal questioned how soon the cameras would be up and running.

Young responded “Madame Speaker there’s a saying that when stone throwing and a person bawl, that’s the person to watch? This member is obsessed with the CCTV camera system and it is beginning to make me wonder why,” he said, saying the cameras would be repaired “as soon as possible”.

“You would be obsessed as well If you cared about the lives of children who are being kidnapped and murded!” Moonilal retorted, prompting fellow MPs on the Opposition bench to bang their desks in agreement.