Acknowledging that all is “not well with the country” and recognizing the huge responsibility on his hands, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said yesterday that his team will work on what needs to be done to improve on efficiency, accountability and the management of the “people’s” resources.

Mr. Dames’ comments came following the Free National Movement’s first cabinet meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister.

“There are too many homicides and there are too many firearms on the streets and we can’t shy away from that. We can’t too early walk in saying that all is well,” he said.

“It’s in our platform that we have to look at the establishment of the organization. Once we determine what the appropriate established level is, then we can work toward meeting that level and if we do that there would be no need for the defence force officers to be on the streets.”

To date, the homicide count already nears 60.

Just before heading to the polls, police officers who worked 12-hour shifts back in 2013 and 2014 were assured that first payment of that overtime money would come on May 29, 2017.

The then Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government promised that the second installment would follow in the next budget cycle.

However, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham pulled no punches on the campaign trail, charging that regardless of who won the general election, the money’s just not there.

Mr. Dames is now charged with determining how soon this election promise can be fulfilled.

“As a government, we are committed to paying officers for what is owed to them, but outside of that I have nothing else to say,” he said.

“It’s very difficult to say whether there is money or not. We will begin this process now of seeing exactly where it is that we are at, what it is that we have, what are some of the challenges that we will face moving in and we will take it from there.”

Officers who died or retired are also expected to benefit from the big payout.