Dear Claudienne,

I was born on the December 2, 1955 in the parish of Westmoreland. I joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force on the March 19, 1979. I was trained at Port Royal. I served the force for 34 years plus and retired in December 2013 whilst I was based in the parish of Trelawny at the age of 58 years old.

The lump sum payment of my pension should have been paid in two portions. I received the first payment and just cannot get the second payment of $1,600,000.00 plus the two years incentive money that is due to me. To date, I have not received any communication from the relevant ministry.

I need the money to work on my house. I understand that the Government is no longer paying the two years incentive money but I retired from the force at the age of 58, two years short of 60 years, which qualifies me to get the two-year incentive money. Please look into the issue for me and inform me accordingly.

C M

Dear CM,

In regard to your allegations, the Ministry of National Security has stated that you were overpaid while you were in the police force. You did not receive the second lump sum payment because the Government recovered the overpayment amount from it. The Tell Claudienne column received the following e-mail from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service:

“Please be informed that this ministry was in receipt of an audited confirmation of the overpayment of salary and allowances from the Jamaica Constabulary Force in respect of the former Corporal CM. The amount recovered being overpayment of salary and allowances was verified to have been paid to him during the period December 7, 2013 to September 30, 2014.”Any further details regarding the matter herein can be obtain from the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Jamaica Constabulary Force. Please be so guided.”

On July 3, 2015, the MOF sent the following letter to the Accountant General:

“CM, formerly a corporal in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, has been granted a pension at the rate of $1,049,433.19 a year, payable with effect from December 6, 2013 in accordance with the provisions of the Constabulary Force Act.

He has elected to receive, in lieu of the pension, a reduced pension at the rate of $787,074.89 a year, payable with effect from December 6, 2013 together with a gratuity in the sum of three million two hundred and seventy nine thousand four hundred and seventy eight dollars and seventy cents ($3,279,478.70).

Please arrange for payment of his retiring benefits, recovering there from the under mentioned amounts: Overpayment of salary and allowances $1,448,827.01.

Advance on account of pension $1,281,400.00. Alimentary allowance at the rate of $590,304.00 a year, payable with effect from December 6, 2013. CM is not a bankrupt.”

We wish you all the best.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 876- 936-9436 or Cell # 876-484-1349 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-421/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.