Police get new wage offer from Government
The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has sent a new wage offer to members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) hours after the leadership of the groups representing the cops denied that they have rejected a proposed pay package from the Government.
Head of the Police Officers’ Association (POA), Senior Superintendent of Police Wayne Cameron, on Friday confirmed reports reaching OBSERVER ONLINE of the latest offer but said he could not comment at this time as it is being reviewed.
At a joint media briefing on Thursday, the leaders of the POA, the Jamaica Police Federation (JPF) and the United District Constables’ Association (UDCA) said reports in the media which claim they rejected the latest offer from Government are false and misleading.
READ: Cops deny that they have ‘rejected’ Government’s wage offer
Cameron told the media briefing that Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has been written to on numerous occasions to address a number of issues the officers are faced with, but said there has been no favourable response.
“Having highlighted the challenges in writing and at meetings and not getting a favourable response is what has become frustrating to the officers’ association and joint groups. That is what is affecting us, so when pronouncements are made about $600 million being available to pay the officers, we cannot accept the $600 million with the types of issues that we have.
“We have to remember that after today there is tomorrow and there is going to be next year and we are not going to hold ourselves accountable for any issues that are not going to work to the advantage of the officer core and the members of the JCF. We are asking for resilience from our officers. Let us stay the course because we have to fix these issues. We cannot go forward with them,” Cameron told journalists.
He said the leadership of the police groups are ready to continue talks with Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke at any time.
Clarke has told the police, and other groups that have noT yet signed a new compensation package, that they have to reach an agreement before March 31 if they are to be paid the new compensation packages this year.
