PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Police Commissioner Dawyne Gibbs has made a last ditch effort to prevent police officers from taking a day of rest and relaxation” on Monday by appealing to them to remember the oath they took when they were sworn in as law enforcement officials.

In a statement issued last night, The Canadian-born Gibbs said that while contingencies have been put in place, he believes “that officers will continue to give of their best and protect and serve the public with pride”.

Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister Suruj Rambachan, speaking at the post-Cabinet press conference, said that contingency plans have been put in place in the event that mass absenteeism occurs next Monday.

“If such an event were to take place, let me say that the police service forms part of the essential services of the country and they are not supposed to be taking industrial action, and the Government will remain very firm in its position with respect to upholding law and order, and we hope that good sense will prevail and people respect the law and respect their commitment in relation to their being an essential service.”

President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Sergeant Anand Ramesar said that the decision to stay away from duties was decided by the membership, and not the executive of the Association.

But he said his association remains committed to meeting with the various stakeholders in resolving the issues faced by officers.

“My position is that I’m very very worried in terms of what may happen because I think that those who think they can deal with it really are clueless at this time but they have information that I don’t.

“With respect to the day of reflection on Monday, that is a fact. I have been doing some enquiries; I have been on the ground; I have been in the Port of Spain district and other areas and it appears that the officers are properly wired and united in this particularly decision.

“I have my concerns in terms of the stakeholders who I hold highly responsible for up until this time if they have not analysed the repercussions and if that analysis has not really mandated them to seek an intervention and meet with the association then I think they are doing a disservice to the entire Trinidad and Tobago.”

The police officers have rejected the government’s offer of a five per cent wage hike, the same increase it has offered workers across the public sector, and apparently frustrated at the state of negotiations, decided on its day of protest, according to media reports.

On Monday, officers are expected to remain at home to “reflect on their working conditions”, or visit their doctors for health checkups.

The association has so far steered clear of endorsing a sickout and cannot be seen to calling for a strike of police officers, who are considered essential service providers and are prohibited from organising themselves into a trade union under the Police Service Act.

A handbill distributed at the police officer’s association meeting and posted on the walls of several police stations warned citizens to brace for the shutdown of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on August 15, and listed several grievances, according to reports.

“21st century policing vs five per cent. Work like an elephant eat like an ant,” the poster’s slogan read.

“Decide on five per cent — united we stand, divided we beg. “We have families, we have to provide for our children and we need to feel safe too,” it added.

The flyer also pointed multiple functions and tasks of police officer, from delivering babies and providing counselling and legal advice to being a referee and arbitrator and to “father the fatherless”

The handbill also listed a litany of police officers complaints about working conditions, including defective vehicles, condemned buildings, pest infestations at stations, broken toilets and “dirty mattresses and cots that were over 50 years old.”

The flyer also said there was no medical coverage for officers who were exposed to dangerous drugs, chemicals and gases.

The association said Monday’s action would the first of five intended days of ‘rest and reflection’, a day for each percentage point in the government’s wage offer.