Police?officers should retire at 55, have a comprehensive group medical insurance plan fully funded by Government, and be given a hazard allowance, says Barbados Police Association president Michael Sobers.
The suggestions were made by Sobers yesterday at the association’s annual general meeting at Solidarity House.
Before an audience that included Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin, Station Sergeant Sobers said retirement at 55 should be compulsory.
“You can have some officers who after serving 25 years could be less than 55. What we need is 55 as the benchmark for compulsory retirement,” he said.
As it stands, police officers like other members of the public service are required to work 33 1/3 years to earn retirement benefits, but Sobers said there were implications for officers in having that extended tour of duty.
“It affects the upward mobility of police officers . . . , it affects succession planning; and furthermore it can have the force saddled with a number of police officers with ailments that prevent them from being able to physically do what is required of them,” he said.
Sobers would like officers on retirement not collecting less than three quarters of their salary as pension.
A policeman for 31 years, Sobers said: “Police make a sterling contribution to the island and it is important they get the support of Government in relation to their medical insurance.”
He also called for faster medical care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for injured police officers.
