The Minister of the Interior said on Tuesday that the new investment plan in infrastructure and equipment for the security forces until 2026 is “an opportunity” for the country and to solve the problems of the police.
José Luís Carneiro is being heard this Tuesday afternoon in parliament on several issues, the first being on the Programming of Investments in Modernization and Operability of Security Forces and Services 2022-2026approved in July by the Government.
“This plan, which we approved in July, is an opportunity for the country. An opportunity to solve problems that -we do not deny it- exist in various infrastructures”, the minister told the deputies of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees.
The official stressed that, in addition to infrastructure, this investment plan “will also follow the path of renewal of vehicles, equipment or technologies“.
According to the official, this multi-year investment program is “a fundamental tool” to provide the security forces with the means and resources “to better fulfill their mission.”
It is an opportunity because the country has more than 607 million euros to carry out this coherent and scheduled modernization until 2026”, he stressed.
During the hearing, the minister was asked about the low rate of execution of the previous investment plan for the security forces from 2017 to 2021.
“Despite the Government’s continuous political propaganda exercises, the pace of execution of the investment program has been disastrous and disappoints the expectations of the security forces,” said PSD deputy Ofélia Ramos.
Also the deputy of the Liberal Initiative Patrícia Gil Vaz affirmed that the amounts budgeted “are rarely executed”.
PCP deputy Alma Rivera stressed that “traditionally, the execution rate is low, around 50%,” which “nothing reassures the population and agents.”
In response, the minister stated that the previous plan had an execution of investments that amounted to more than 340 million euros.
However, he admitted that “there is always a very large set of obstacles, either in terms of public procurement itself, or later, the many obstacles that arise and that sometimes make faster execution difficult.”
To the deputies, the minister also advanced with some measures carried out in the last two months within the framework of the new Investment Programming in the Modernization and Operation of the Security Forces and Services.
José Luís Carneiro reported that the Ministry of Internal Administration “Already launched 16 tenders for the acquisition of equipment for the National Republican Guard and the Public Security Police”.
“The tenders, worth close to 5.3 million euros, cover equipment for specialized functions, to support operational activity and improve working conditions at GNR and PSP. They also include the purchase of charging systems for electric vehicles, furniture for several GNR territorial posts, and also various equipment and software in the field of Information Technology and Communications Systems, ”he explained.
Source: Observadora
