WHEN I joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) over eight years ago, I welcomed the opportunity to serve my country and to also better myself, having lived well below the poverty line when I was growing up in the deep rural parts of Clarendon. I left a decently paying job to take on the role of a police officer because I believed that I could make a difference. That sentiment was bolstered when I arrived at the Police Academy and the lesson taught inculcated in all of us the mission to make a difference.

The average annual basic pay for a police constable, which makes up majority of the rank and file police officers, was just about $585,000.00 per year ($48,750 monthly) before taxes. It was subsequently moved up to about $750,000.00 per year, after an increase was granted under a different Government. This translates into $62,500 per month before taxes, resulting in just over $50,000 take home per month after taxes and basic deductions. In contrast, the starting salary for an Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) investigator is approximately $1.8 million per year, which is more than twice the salary of a police constable, who works for much longer hours, oftentimes in excess of 70 hours per week and under twice as hard circumstances ith much less resources.

My purchasing power, along with other public sector employees, has been severely diminished under the

five-year wage restraint, and I am sure it has eroded much further than the ridiculous single-digit percentage being offered by the Government. The Government expects us to be reasonable in our demands, but they must also be reasonable in their offer. Such a small per cent salary increase will not cut it and, to make matters worse, it also makes Government’s chief negotiator seem arrogant

and very high-handed in his approach. He didn’t come to negotiate at all; he made an offer and said that it is final. How can that be considered negotiation?

We are sick and tired of being disrespected by this Government. We are sick and tired of working oftentimes in excess of 70 hours per week. We sick of being underpaid, while the same Government pays a body multiple times the average salary of a police officer, to investigate the said police. We are sick and depressed. Depression is classified as a sickness and many of us are extremely depressed working under these extreme conditions. Look how many of us were sick and out from work recently. The conditions are taking a toll. No Government or court can force any sick person back to work.

Unlike our counterparts in the military, we are not provided with three square meals per day or a clean set of uniform when they get old and worn. The morale of the police may possibly be at the lowest I’ve seen in my eight years. So much so, the attrition rate is much higher than how the Government is able to recruit replacements.

Come back to negotiation table. We deserve better. These are my two cents…

Jacob Miller is a police officer.