KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Finance Julian Robinson has expressed deep concern about what he describes as the government’s “disrespect” toward public sector workers, particularly members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, amid stalled wage negotiations.

Speaking at a health fair in Nannyville, Robinson said he was troubled by reports from the Police Federation about the difficulty in getting a meeting with the Ministry of Finance.

“I saw a video and a release from the Chairman of the Police Federation, Sergeant Arleen McBean, on how difficult it has been to get a meeting with the Ministry of Finance. The police federation wrote twice to the Minister and got no response. And it took a very agitated, frustrated and upset police federation chairman to go public for the Minister of Finance to even acknowledge and arrange a meeting,” Robinson said.

He criticised what he called a “lethargic response” from the minister, saying public servants should not have to fight simply to secure a meeting.

“It shows a disregard and a disrespect for public servants that we don’t respond… particularly our policemen and women who are out there day and night putting their lives on the line to protect us,” he added, noting that other bargaining groups have also complained of unanswered correspondence.

Robinson called on the government to “treat our public sector workers with the respect that they deserve, acknowledge their correspondence, and at least… set a date that gives them some assurance that their legitimate concerns are going to be heard.”

READ: Police Federation demands urgent wage talk

His comments come after the Jamaica Police Federation publicly criticised the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for what it called an “inordinate delay” in beginning salary and benefits negotiations for the 2025–2027 contract period.

In a statement, the federation said it had sent two letters, on June 25 and July 25, requesting urgent meetings with Minister Fayval Williams, but the only reply, received on July 29, stated that the minister was overseas, with no proposed meeting date.

Chairman Sergeant Arleen McBean said the delay had eroded confidence and good faith in the negotiation process, especially given earlier promises of an early meeting during Phase Two of the Compensation Review in May.

McBean stressed that rank-and-file officers were becoming “very restive” and demanded that the minister provide a meeting date.