KINGSTON, Jamaica – There is disquiet among rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Police Federation amid reports that former chairman Corporal Rohan James will not be in attendance at the annual conference of the federation which kicks off Tuesday in Montego Bay, St James.

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

“There are a few things we need to bring to your attention and address some concerns that have been raised. Regarding the attendance of Corporal James at the 81st Annual Joint Conferences, please note the Commissioner of Police must approve attendance for non-delegates. No approval was given for Corporal Rohan James, the former chairman, to attend the conference,” Codner wrote.

In response, James has argued that neither the chairman nor the police commissioner has the authority to bar him from attending the conference which he said is the highest decision-making body for the rank-and-file membership’s welfare and wellbeing.

“Consequently, I will be attending. As a matter of fact, as we speak, I am on my way there,” he told Observer Online.

The conference is scheduled for May  21-23, 2024 at the Hylton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, Montego Bay, St James.

Voicing their displeasure at news that Corporal James would not be attending the conference, some federation members expressed that they believe James is being silenced.

“We feel angry and betrayed. It’s like a slap in the face. That’s how we feel. Things nah go normal down here today,” one member told Observer Online.

James was interdicted over remarks he made in July Lat 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