Dear Claudienne,

I would like to raise an issue concerning the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the delayed payments owed to former members who have departed — whether through resignation, choosing not to reenlist, or retirement.

Many ex-members who left the force in good standing have been waiting for over a year or more to receive the payments due to them. The finance branch of the JCF repeatedly claims there is a backlog of files, and the audit department is currently without a head after the previous person in charge retired, leaving the position unfilled for an indefinite period.

It has been an ongoing, frustrating process to contact the finance branch, only to receive the same unconvincing explanations.These payments could help in many significant ways, but the JCF continues to withhold them.

I am kindly requesting your assistance in making this matter public.

JB

Dear JB,

In response to queries from
Tell Claudienne the director, corporate communications and public relations branch of the Ministry of National Security and Peace has responded as follows:

1. Why are some former JCF members experiencing delays in receiving retroactive payments, leave balances, and other benefits owed to them after leaving the force?

Response: Former members may experience delays because the processing of retirement benefits is a complex exercise that requires islandwide coordination among Area Headquarters of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and several government entities, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Ministry of National Security and Peace, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, and the Accountant General’s Department. Each case must undergo multiple stages of verification to ensure the accuracy of service records, leave entitlements, earnings, and other supporting documentation before payments can be authorised.

In some instances, files also require corrections or additional information before they can proceed, which contributes to processing times. While these verification measures are necessary to ensure accuracy and accountability, the ministry recognises that the time taken in some cases has been longer than is acceptable and has implemented several measures to accelerate the processing of outstanding cases.

2. Is there currently a backlog of former officers awaiting payment? If so, how many former officers are affected?

Response: The Ministry of National Security and Peace acknowledges that a backlog exists in the processing of pension files for former members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Over 100 officers retire annually, which results in an ongoing addition to the number of pension cases for processing. Since the last reported backlog of February 2026 of 331 pension cases, we have reduced that figure to 165 cases. This figure does not include differed retirement, death benefits and payments in lieu of vacation leave.

3. What is the total value of outstanding payments owed?

Response: The total value of outstanding payments to former officers rests with the Accountant General’s Department following review and finalisation from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.

4. What factors have contributed to these delays?

Response: The backlog is driven primarily by the complexity of the pension administration process, which involves multiple stages of verification and coordination among several government entities before benefits can be finalised. Upon finalisation, the Accountant General’s Department undertakes its own process to facilitate payment.

5. The former officer I spoke with said he has been waiting more than three years to receive payment. Among former officers currently awaiting payment.

a. What is the average waiting period?

Response: The ministry does not currently use an average waiting period as the measure of the backlog, as each case is unique and processing times vary depending on the complexity of the file and the completeness of the supporting documentation.

b. What is the longest period an individual has waited?

Response: Regrettably, there have been former officers who have waited for as long three years to receive pension payments. However, with the establishment of the Pension Hub, priority has been placed on processing those outstanding pension cases from 2024 to date. The Ministry remains committed to ensure that all former officers receive due payment for the years of dedicated service to the country.

6. Are there specific categories of payments (eg, retroactive salary adjustments, leave balances, gratuities) that are experiencing longer delays than others?

Response: There are categories experiencing delays by virtue of the focus being placed on outstanding pension payment cases. These include officers permitted to remain in office up to 60th birthday and to receive payment in lieu of vacation leave, payment in lieu of vacation leave in relation to benefits to dependents of deceased members and leave/gratuity payment for officers who were on contract.

7. What steps is the ministry currently taking to address the backlog and expedite payments to former officers?

Response: To address these challenges, the ministry established a centralised Pension Hub to streamline the process, strengthen coordination among the relevant agencies, and improve accountability for the timely completion of files. Dedicated teams meet three times each week to process pension cases through to completion and upload. The team has convened on 23 operational days, achieving an average processing rate of approximately four file uploads per day, the previous monthly average prior to the establishment of the Pension Hub. To date, 86 pension files have been successfully uploaded to the Public Employees’ Pension Administration System (PEPAS).

The initiative is already producing results, with the backlog continuing to decline. The ministry remains committed to further improving the efficiency of the pension process and ensuring that retired officers receive the benefits they have earned in the shortest possible time.

8. Has the ministry allocated additional resources or implemented new systems to improve the processing of these payments?

Response: Please see response to question 7 above.

9. How long does the ministry anticipate it will take to clear the existing backlog, if one exists?

Response: The ministry is making progress in reducing the backlog and remains focused on clearing the outstanding cases as quickly as possible. While it is difficult to provide an exact timeframe, given that each pension file varies in complexity we are seeing steady improvements as a result of the measures that have been implemented.

The centralised Pension Hub and enhanced coordination among the relevant agencies have significantly improved processing capacity and reduced turnaround times. The Ministry will continue to prioritise these cases until the backlog is substantially reduced and remains committed to ensuring that former officers receive the benefits to which they are entitled without unnecessary delay.

10. What assurance can the ministry provide that affected former officers will receive all payments owed to them?

Response: The ministry remains fully committed to honouring its obligations to former members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in keeping with the Pensions Act, 2017. Eligible former officers will receive all pension and retirement benefits to which they are entitled once the required verification and approval processes have been completed.

We recognise the sacrifices made by our officers in service to the country and understand the importance of these benefits to their financial well-being. That is why the ministry has implemented targeted measures to strengthen the pension administration process, reduce the backlog, and improve processing times. We will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to ensure that outstanding cases are resolved as quickly as possible and that the system is fair, efficient, and transparent.

11. What recourse is available to former officers who believe their payments have been unreasonably delayed or who have been unable to obtain updates on their cases?

Response: Former officers who believe their pension or retirement benefits have been unreasonably delayed, or who require updates on the status of their cases, are encouraged to utilise the JCF Pension Help Desk, which was established to provide information, respond to queries, and assist in resolving pension-related concerns. The Help Desk can be reached via telephone at 876-427-8597 or email at
helpdesk@jcf.gov.jm.

12. How frequently does the ministry review and monitor outstanding payments owed to former JCF members?

Response: Please see response to question 7.

13. Are there any policy, administrative, or budgetary challenges currently affecting the ministry’s ability to process these payments in a timely manner?

Response: The ministry acknowledges that there are challenges that have affected the timely processing of pension payments; however, there are currently no identified policy or budgetary constraints preventing the processing of these payments. To improve the output, the ministry has implemented several administrative improvements, including the establishment of the Pension Hub which provides centralized oversight and case management. Dedicated teams now meet three times weekly to review, process, and finalise files for upload to the Public Employee Pension Administration System (PEPAS).

We wish you all the best.

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