T&T cannot afford $1,000 tax free allowance for Prison Officers

The government of Trinidad and Tobago cannot afford to give prisons officers, fire officers and members of the Defence Force a a tax-free $1,000 allowance.

That's the word from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. "The prison officers will get it in due course, but we cannot afford it at this point in time," Persad-Bissessar told reporters following a business forum at the Hilton Trinidad.

The Prisons Officers Association (POA) is asking the government for the $1,000 special non-taxable allowance that police now receive. She suggested that union leaders should be realistic, patriotic and "bite the bullet" as other nations have done globally.

"They are all asking for more than we can afford," she said, adding that Government is working towards raising revenue and boosting the economy.

She pointed out that while the economy is projected to grow this fiscal year, it will not be sufficient to sustain the demand of the PSA or other sectors.