THE Opposition People’s National Party has again called on the Andrew Holness Administration to settle the wage issues with the police and other public sector workers now, as industrial action looms large in the busy Christmas season and renders the country more insecure.

The party said police services, including deployment to the island’s courts, were disrupted Monday as rank-and-file members of the constabulary were obviously involved in industrial action over the continued intransigence of the government in the present wage negotiation, which is already nine months behind the scheduled date of April 1, 2017 for a new wage and benefits package for public sector employees.

Shadow minister on national security Fitz Jackson said in the face of skyrocketing murder rate, mobility challenges and a demotivated police force, Jamaicans will approach the season of good cheer with trepidation.

“It should be clear to the Government by this that the three per cent wage offer will lead to serious industrial relations issues in the public sector and widespread disruption of critical services. The party has already indicated that it believed an improved wage offer is possible within the terms of the IMF agreement,” said Jackson.

He said the prime minister needs to be reminded that a primary responsibility of Government is the security of the citizenry, and the Administration must act now to put the police in a position to deliver on their mandate to serve, protect and reassure.