Rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have voted to accept the Government’s latest wage offer.

OBSERVER ONLINE understands that the Central Committee of the Police Federation held a vote exercise at a virtual meeting on Thursday, resulting in 86 per cent of the more than 1,300 members who participated voting to accept the offer.

It is understood that, based on the result of the voting, the federation will formally write to inform the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service of the members’ decision.

The members of the JCF are the last major public sector group left to settle wage agreements.

Earlier this week, members of the Police Officers Association (POA) voted unanimously to reject the upgraded offer placed on the table by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service last Friday.

In opening the 2023/24 budget debate just over one week ago, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke urged public sector groups which had not yet signed the new compensation scheme to settle wage agreements.

At that time Clarke explained that, inclusive of amounts allocated in the first to fourth supplementary estimates, approximately $79.4 billion is provided for in 2022/23 to pay the incremental amounts for the first year of the restructured compensation system.

Since then, two of the major public sector groups, the teachers and doctors, have signed the agreement, leaving the police as the last major group to ink a deal.