KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Police Federation says it is incensed by the continued silence from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service regarding wage negotiations, and is demanding that Minister Fayval Williams end what it calls the “disrespect” being shown to rank-and-file officers.

The federation is calling attention to what it describes as an “inordinate delay” in starting salary and benefit negotiations for the 2025–2027 contract period.

According to the federation, this lack of engagement is uncharacteristic of the ministry in recent times and has resulted in no wage offer being made to date.

In a statement, the federation said two letters requesting urgent meetings were sent to the minister of finance on June 25, 2025, and July 25, 2025. However, the only response, received on July 29, merely stated that the minister was overseas, with no indication of a possible meeting date.

Chairman of the Police Federation, Sergeant Arleen McBean, said the federation had been promised an early meeting during talks on May 6, 2025, related to Phase Two of the Compensation Review and the salary and benefits proposal for the upcoming contract period.

“To date, this promise has not been fulfilled. This action by the minister and her team has eroded confidence and the doctrine of good faith in relation to transparent industrial relations principles,” she said.

Sergeant McBean added that while the country celebrates a significant reduction in major crimes, the finance ministry’s silence amounts to a “slap in the face of the hardworking men and women” of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

“The Jamaica Police Federation, we are not pleased,” McBean stressed.

“We are not pleased with the way the honourable minister of finance and the public service has ignored the request from the Jamaica Police Federation for an urgent meeting, for conclusion to the Phase Two of the Compensation Review 2022–2025, and for a commencement of the salary negotiation for 2025–2027.”

She noted that although the federation was told during the May 6 meeting that an early date would be provided, there has been further delay.

“We waited and we realised that there is another delay on the part of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service,” she said, adding that it wasn’t until July 29 that a hand-delivered response confirmed the minister was on overseas duties.

“The rank-and-file members, we are not pleased. And the rank-and-file members, we are very restive.”

McBean insisted that the minister respond as soon as possible.

“We cannot have rank-and-file members working so hard. Different platforms, different persons, we bask in the glory of a crime reduction. And there is an issue to meet with those who represent this result of excellence.”

“We are demanding a meeting date, honourable minister. The rank-and-file members deserve this. We have earned it, and it is important that you listen to our cry for a meeting,” she said.