National Security Minister

Wayne Perinchief on Wednesday detailed the $11,500,000 overspend in his Ministry for the current fiscal year as he sought budget supplementary estimates approval from his colleagues.

Some $700,000 of that amount was for a pay award for officers of the Fire Services, but no new money was required as it was accommodated by efficiency savings elsewhere.

The largest amount was $8 million for the Police Service, over $5 million of which was for their pay award retroactive to 2010. Another $1,880,000 was overtime costs and telephone costs of $700,000 reflected a third item of overspend. And overseas expert witnesses cost $130,000, while acting pay due to vacancies amounted to $100,000.

Overspends for Border Control amounted to $2,500,000, mainly for salaries/overtime and operational costs.

Regiment salaries increase backdated to 2010 accounted for another $300,000, the Minister said.

One Bermuda Alliance Leader

Craig Cannonier spoke in support of the supplementary estimates, saying his party had always agreed that more money would be required for the Ministry.

“We recognise that this is a pretty clean one here and it really is going towards paying salaries.”