ST JAMES, Jamaica – There was heightened contention during the first day of the Jamaica Police Federation’s 81st annual conference over the barring of the now-indicted former chairman Corporal Rohan James from attending the conference.

In a letter published recently to the federated members, the newly-elected chairman, Inspector Blanche Codner, revealed that James would not be in attendance at the conference.

Codner stated that the Commissioner of Police must approve attendance for non-delegates and that no approval was given for James, the former chairman, to attend the conference.

However, former security minister Peter Bunting, who was the special invited guest, in his address to the conference started out his presentation by addressing the “elephant in the room.”
Bunting pointed out that Corporal James was muzzled by the Police High Command and shared that it was now time for him to be the principal advocate on behalf of the rank-and-file members.

However, this did not go down well with at least one delegate. A point of order moved by said delegate, reportedly drew the wrath of Bunting, marring the conference in the process.

“What is the point of order that you are interrupting my presentation? When you are making your presentation, you decide how you make it. I am invited to speak and I will decide how I make it,” argued Bunting.

However, the delegate pointed out that the issue against Corporal James is a matter under investigation, one that could end up before a tribunal and expressed that Bunting’s line of argument was inappropriate.

The delegate suggested that Bunting be allowed to make his presentation without causing disruption. Inspector Codner intervened by agreeing with the delegate. However, Bunting was approved to continue his speech following the intervention of the Commissioner of Police, Dr Kevin Blake.

It was earlier reported that there was disquiet among rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Police Federation amid reports that James will not be in attendance at the annual conference being held from May 21-23, 2024 at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in St James. Voicing their displeasure, some federation members expressed that they believe James was being silenced.

READ: Disquiet among Police Federation members as former chairman barred from conference

James was interdicted over remarks he made in July last year at a funeral service for a slain cop. Speaking at the thanksgiving service for the life of slain Constable Damien Blair at the Old Harbour New Testament Church of God in St Catherine, James reportedly chided the Police High Command for allegedly failing to have overtime payments made to rank-and-file police personnel, despite the Government approving such a system to calculate and make the payments.

A Supreme Court ruling in November 2023, however, ordered that James resume his duties as chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation with immediate effect.

READ: Police Federation Chairman to be reinstated with immediate effect

However, The Court of Appeal later granted Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Andrew Lewis permission to pursue an appeal of the Orders of Justice T Carr to stay the interdiction of Corporal James. As a result, James’ reinstatement was halted.

READ: Reinstatement attempts by embattled police federation chairman halted

-Anthony Lewis