GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — The long-awaited resumption of increment payouts to members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will begin next month, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang has announced.

“Increments that were not paid during the compensation review will be paid in June of 2025. That’s a target, and the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is set to pay that,” he said while addressing the Jamaica Police Federation’s 82nd Annual Joint Central Conference on Tuesday.

“For those who are new, that was the understanding from the time when we went into the compensation package: that they would execute the new pay scale across the public sector, and in June 2025, we will pay the increment. And it will be paid on time, I want to assure you,” promised Dr Chang, who is also the country’s deputy prime minister.

He was responding to a call made earlier during the event by Opposition spokesperson on national security Peter Bunting for the payout of increments to the police, similar to those received by other public sector workers.

According to Bunting, all public sector workers would normally receive an annual increment. However, with the implementation of the 2022/2023 compensation, a circular was put out by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service that halted payouts for three years.

In September of 2024, the Confederation of Trade Unions signed an agreement for the restoration of increments by April of this year.

“Teachers, correctional officers, civil servants and other public sector workers like JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company) drivers are getting it. Policemen and women are part of the public sector. They should not be discriminated against,” argued Bunting.

“They, too, must be paid increments that were unilaterally withheld from them. So, Minister, I am giving you the opportunity to make a big announcement in that regard,” he added, to a round of applause from members of the JCF who were present.

In addition to providing the requested update on the pay-outs, Dr Chang also addressed other issues such as the Government’s commitment to ensuring improvements to JCF’s Human Resource Management System.

“You are having challenges with the pension scheme now that is administrative and it is our intention to address that,” he stated.

Dr Chang noted that his ministry’s permanent secretary, Ambassador Alison Stone Roofe, is currently taking steps to improve efficiency.

“In terms of digitalisation, the Jamaica Constabulary Force is the most advanced government agency in digitising processes. Part of that of course is to introduce an effective Human Resource Management System. There are discussions with MyHR+, an integrated HR and payroll system. We need to get that done fast — not tomorrow but today — to ensure that we have an effective human resource management system that effectively deals with the operations and to ensure that, on retirement, we can deal efficiently with your pension as well,” he explained.

The two-day conference was held at Princess Grand Jamaica Hotel in Green Island, Hanover, under the theme: “Embracing Transformation through Partnership and Unity”.