and Safety Minister Harish Monorath. Minister Monorath pointed out that this discrepancy raises questions and made it clear that the number of police officers that are assigned to protect ministers must be reduced as part of the efforts to restructure and improve the finances of the police force. Minister

Landveld confirmed that his security team had been recalled temporarily. The police officers who had been assigned to protect the minister were instructed to report to their superior.

Minister Monorath explained that “this is not a new measures but the execution of agreements that were reached several months ago”. Minister Landveld pointed out that he initially found the recent developments strange but that the air has been cleared. He also pointed out that members of his party who live in his neighborhood are currently in charge of his safety.

Monorath fiercely criticized the number of police officers who have been assigned to some of the ministers. He is puzzled by the fact that some of the ministers have more bodyguards than the minister of Justice and Safety. “I had already told him once to send back his people. That was a couple of months ago. We had recalled those people and then we had given them back to him”, said Minister Monorath who added that as part of the agreement the number of bodyguards would be reduced gradually. “Despite everything Landveld has 17 bodyguards. Why does he have 17 people?” Minister Monorath explained that his ministry has to cough up a lot of money and manpower to provide security teams to the ministers. His ministry and therefore the treasury also has to cover the costs when those bodyguards work overtime. “I am responsible for running the Ministry of Justice and Safety but even I do not have 17 bodyguards. I have six bodyguards who work shifts. Four of those are police officers. Ministers who want additional bodyguards must contact the National Security Directorate (DNV).