Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the government is taking steps to address inadequacies in the TT Coast Guard (TTCG) as she described its management as "poor and shameful."

Persad-Bissessar told Newsday that work is expected to begin next week at the Cedros Security Complex. She said this would begin with T&TEC upgrading the lighting system around the facility, National Petroleum upgrading the fuel systems and the Urban Development Corporation of TT inspecting and creating a scope of works to upgrade the buildings.

"The facility was left in a total state of disrepair. The coast guard officers working there are working in horrible conditions. The facility is in desperate need of upgrades. It is only because of the visit of the Minister of Defence (Wayne Sturge) a couple of weeks ago that we were able to find out what is happening there," she said in a WhatsApp message.