Speaking with reporters in Penal, where she was attending the Siparia Kiddies Carnival Competition, Persad-Bissessar said, while her meeting earlier in the day with members of the Police Social and Welfare Association was cordial, there was nothing more she could offer them.

The Trinidad Express reported that police have protested the five percent wage offer by “falling ill” and staying off the job, and the decision by Guard and Emergency Branch Officers to leave Persad-Bissessar’s home unguarded, had led to a decision to have soldiers assigned to the homes of several politicians.

The police want a 40 percent increase. The Public Service Association has also rejected a five percent salary hike offer to public servants.

The prime minister told reporters, “I trust that we will have a safe Carnival and I not get the feeling that they (police officers) will be falling ill and they will continue to do their duty to protect and serve.”

She expressed carnival wishes to everyone and disclosed that 60 closed circuit television cameras will be installed at various points across the country in an effort to fight crime.

(Parts of this article were written with content submitted in a Caribbeannewsnow release)