By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterSERGEANT DAVID White, chairman of the Police Federation, yesterday threw down the gauntlet to the Government, calling for an adequate wage package, improved working conditions and more effective equipment for its members.
However, Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, urged the police to return to the bargaining table to resume negotiations.
Sgt. White, addressing a capacity audience of police personnel ranging from inspectors to constables who form the federation's membership at its 61st annual general conference at the Jamaica Grande Hotel, Ocho Rios, St. Ann, said it was time that the police got a fair deal.
AMONG THE LOWEST PAID
"You cannot run a champagne organisation with a bag-juice budget," he said, stressing that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force were among the lowest paid among such personnel in the region.
To spirited applause from his colleagues, he warned that the police would not put their future on hold by agreeing to the terms of the recently-agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Government and public sector workers. Under the terms of the MoU signed in February, thousands of public sector workers have agreed to a virtual wage freeze for the next two years. The Government wants the police to be guided by the terms of the MoU but they are adamant that they will not.
Said White: "We need to correct this low-wage condition then we can speak about 'tightening' the belt. We could not believe when we met with the Government last Friday, fully equipped with arguments to substantiate our (wage) claims, that Government had the audacity in this harsh economic climate to say to us we not offering you nothing."
He said the Government, through the activities of the police, had earned more than $2 billion a year in revenue.
A partial breakdown, as given by White, shows some $300 million collected from traffic tickets; over $110 million from court fines; $35 million from police certificates; another $14 million from fingerprint searches; $6.2 million from accident reports and US$3.2 million, the proceeds of assets forfeiture.
"We are demanding that this money be used to develop the police force and not be spent on repayment of (the nation's) debt that is always growing," White said.
He said that 33 police stations islandwide were in deplorable state and could be ordered closed at any time by the Ministry of Health.
He disclosed that 50 per cent of the fleet of vehicles in the police force ranged from 1987 to 2000 models and were in very poor condition. Another 22 per cent of the fleet with readings from 150,000 to 450,000 kilometres, are three to five years old and in fair condition. Only 13 per cent of the fleet was in good working condition.
OCCASIONALLY HECKLED
Dr. Phillips was occasionally heckled during his response to statements made by the federation chairman.
"It takes two to fight and I am not here to fight with you," the minister told the rank and file officers.
He told the audience that the country's budget was computed on the MoU. He explained that the survival of the country depended on the MoU. He was unable to make a salary offer from the platform, he said, and urged the police to return to the bargaining table to resume negotiations.
He said some $50 million had been budgeted to effect repairs to police stations. This, in addition to $400 million to deal with the construction of others. Also, $50 million had been approved to purchase service vehicles over the next two months. And measures have also been put in place to acquire six boats and over 100 motorcycles.
