WHITE. the next move will be decided by delegates at the end of the three-day conference

OCHO RIOS, St Ann - The Police Federation yesterday demanded a 45 per cent pay hike over the next two years as the government dug in its heels and refused to budge from the three per cent offered under the Memorandum of Understanding.

The next move, said Federation president Sergeant David White, would be decided by delegates at the end of their three-day conference or, at the latest, by the end of this week.

"Forty-five per cent increase over the two-year period. would be reasonable, taking into consideration the economic constraints of our members," White told the Observer after a spirited address to the force's rank and file members at the Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

PHILLIPS. the survival of the country is dependent on that MOU holding

But National Security Minister Peter Phillips, who spoke after White, made it clear that the government will be sticking to the terms of the MOU.

"The survival of the country is dependent on that MOU holding," the minister said.

While the government understands the need for an "efficiently paid" police force, the security minister said, the ongoing wage dispute had to be conducted within the boundaries of the MOU.

The MOU, a wage-freeze-for-jobs pact signed between the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) and the government in February, is aimed at protecting 15,000 public sector jobs and shaving $6 billion off the government's wage bill while keeping a tight rein on inflation.

The police federation did not sign the MOU but the JCTU has insisted that the federation's members are bound by the terms of the document - a view that Phillips obviously shares.

"I understand the position of the Ministry of Finance to be this," Phillips said yesterday. "That on the salary-related issue of the claims, there are constraints to operate within the terms of the MOU; but all the other matters are open for discussion."

The federation had earlier unveiled a 24-point plan that, in addition to the 45 per cent salary hike, called for the $2 billion a year that it estimates that the force earns on behalf of the government to be used to develop the police force - not to repay debts.

This amount, White said, included:

. $300 million from traffic tickets,

. $110 million from court fines,

. $85 million from police certificates,

. $14 million from finger print search,

. $3.2 million from accident reports, and

. US$3.2 million netted under the forfeiture act by the narcotics division.

"I know that we have an obligation to pay our debts, but we cannot lose sight on what is our national interest. The nation's security is at risk. As law enforcement officers we must have adequate tools and reasonable working conditions to carry out our duties," the federation head said.

He also addressed other internal issues, such as the time-lag between when members are charged and when they face trial.

"The federation is calling for all internal cases to be tried within six months to a maximum of one year. We are recommending that those cases not tried within the specific time be thrown out," said Sergeant White.

Over 106 police officers are currently on criminal charges, there were 130 pending internal police trials (court of enquiry) and over 230 on interdiction or suspension, he said.

The chairman also called for federation members to be given housing lots, without making a downpayment, under the Operation Pride scheme.

He also called on Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes to address the poor conditions under which he said cops now work at the Payne Avenue, Port Maria, Falmouth police stations and the Haitian boat people camp in Portland.
The conference continues today.

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