The report, citing Executive Director of the Prime Minister’s Household, and Diplomatic Centre, retired Brigadier Carl Alfonso, said 40 other members of the company that had been providing security services since 2007 have been retained.
It said the officers who remain have passed a polygraph test ordered by Alfonso and National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Gary Griffith.
The drastic reduction in security personnel means a saving of $8 million per year in salaries. The most junior officer was paid $10,000 a month with senior personnel earning as much as $25,000 monthly.
The paper said all 90 officers were required to take the polygraph tests; some of them refused and were dismissed.
The paper quoted Alfonso as saying that it was an insult to have persons guard the Prime Minister who were not qualified to do so. It also quoted him as saying that he welcomes the return of the army to carry out the main security functions at the Prime Minister’s residence, Diplomatic Centre and Office of the Prime Minister.
The paper said Griffith also confirmed the changes.
“I think the action by the previous government to dismiss the army and replace them with private security guards to protect a prime minister was a slap in the face to every law enforcement officer and every member of the defence force," the paper quoted Griffith as saying.
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