Foreign police officers' salary
published: Thursday | June 29, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE POLICE Officers Association has responded in a letter published in The Gleaner of June 27, to an editorial of The Sunday Gleaner of June 21. This response has failed to answer the central issue which was raised by the chairman of the Police Officers Association. That issue is what to do in a situation were the public purse is unable to offer significant salary increases to police officers, while at the same time, ex-budgetary support is being offered to foreign police officers assigned to the JCF.

It is unlikely that these foreign police officers would accept an assignment in Jamaica for less remuneration than they are accustomed to in the home country. Since it is impossible to get these extra-budgetary sources (i.e. the British Government) to offer equal assistance to all Jamaican police officers, the question is what should be the response of the Jamaican Government. There are only two feasible outcomes: (1) a differentiated remuneration package with foreign police offers receiving more than the local police officers, or (2) a remuneration package which is equal for all persons of similar ranks, but a JCF has no foreign input.

The chairman of the Police Officers Association needs to level with the country as to which of these two options (which are the only ones possible) is his association advocating.

I am, etc.,

PETER-JOHN GORDON

pjmgordon@hotmail.com

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica