WESTERN BUREAU:
THE CENTRAL executive of the Jamaica Police Federation was returned by the almost 400 delegates, with only one change, at the close of their 63rd annual conference in Trelawny last week.
The executive, which represents rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), is comprised of Constables Mark Tomlinson and Cecil McCalla, Corporals Raymond Wilson and Hartley Stewart, Sergeants David White and Daniel McKinley and Inspectors Handel Morgan and Claudette Wellington, newcomer.
Corporals Wilson and Stewart retain their positions as Chairman and General Secretary respectively.
Chairman Wilson told The Gleaner that the central committee would be vigorously pursuing issues such as the implementation of a 40-hour work week and its forty-point wage claim for 2006-2008.
The federation is asking for 45 per cent increase in the first year and 30 per cent in the second year.
He noted that the conference's theme "Building capacity, empowering police officers to a more professional service" was built on two principles.
"Firstly, motivating our rank and file towards a service delivery aimed at meeting and exceeding the policing demands of the community as well to add value to the personal and occupational growth of members," Cpl. Wilson said.
"And secondly, to set a framework for the professional development of the JCF and its members through redesigning, retooling and a refocus on training and development opportunities that will allow for recognition within the arrangement of the Caribbean Single Market (CSM)." The federation is proposing that the movement of police professionals across regional borders be included in the movement of labour contained within the arrangements of the CSM.
