Police Flex Their Muscles, Threaten Constituted Authority

December 14, 2021 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

In a rather brazen and defiant mood the leadership of the Jamaica Police Federation (JPF) has threatened to withdraw their services if certain demands are not met by the government.  They are claiming overtime payment retroactive from 2008, but have softened their position to accept from 2015 and are prepared to accept installments for six years until arrears are cleared up by government.  This is the latest from talks which are being held with the JPF (Police Union) and the finance Ministry.

Overtime

There has been a long standing dispute about overtime between the rank and file membership of the Police which successive governments have been kicking down the road from 2008.  There was an agreement in principle for a (40) forty hour work week,  but payments were never made.  There are now retroactive payments due and this is the contentious issue which has led to this recent stand off with the JPF, their staff union and the PM Andrew Michael Holness led Government.

Crime Wave

With an already high crime wave in Jamaica, especially gun related,  the government is under some pressure to settle as soon as possible.  All major crimes are down more than single digits. For example rape, break-ins and robberies have shown significant reductions. There are funds put aside to settle wage dispute,  so, it is just a matter of when.

Commentary

In a related matter, the government has offered the police 4 percent wage increase as part of wage negotiations, which they have rejected.  We hope good sense will prevail and a settlement will be arrived at soon.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is a poet, elegist, author and senior international journalist who writes for Vision Newspaper.