The remaining batch of special constables in the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) are disappointed that no attempt was made to regularise their status before Parliament was dissolved two weeks ago.
At the moment there are close to 40 special constables in the force – some with more than 20 years’ service, others between 10 and 15 – who have not been promoted into the rank and file of the police force, even though in 2007 an amendment was made to the Police Act in the House of Assembly to enable them to be appointed as constables after satisfying the relevant qualifications.
Some of the disgruntled officers told the Sunday Sun that some of them had acquired degrees and had other qualifications but still had not been promoted.
And even though they have all performed the duties of regular police officers they have no security of tenure and are not entitled to any financial benefits which regular police officers enjoy.
Two years ago, as a result of mounting frustration, the group brought a lawsuit against the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General claiming that they had a legitimate expectation to be converted to police constables, but they say they should not have to go this far after putting their lives at risk every day in the line of duty.
“We are being told that we fall into the category of casual workers,” said a special constable who spoke out publicly about the issue in 2016.
“The hierarchy of the force is telling us that our post was not created by Government, that it was created by the Commissioner of Police, and that the only person that can promote us is the Commissioner. So if that is so, why are they holding us back?” he said.
“They told us that our post is not a [substantive] post; that the traffic wardens and messengers were created by Government and many of them were recently appointed. They are entitled to benefits but not we.”
The special constable said the situation was taking a toll on them because some had left the force medically unfit and after being injured on the job but were forced to leave empty-handed.
“So after all these years of working we going home with nothing. We are doing the same job like everybody else or even more but if we get injured on the job our salary has to stop after 14 days and we have to apply to National Insurance. That ain’t fair.”
He added that after they filed the lawsuit they had a meeting with the commissioner, who informed them that all special constables would be assigned to beach duties.
“So after working alongside police officers, they took us and transfer us to patrol the beach but that still putting our lives at risk,” he charged.
“We still out there fighting crime and the only compliments we get is from the Barbados Tourism & Hotel Association, who are always praising us for keeping the beach safe and protecting the tourists.
“We feel as if they are using us for cheap labour,” the officer said, pointing out that their maximum salary was $2 500 a month while new police officers get a starting salary of between $3 000 and $3 500.
The lawsuit is due to come up in the High Court on March 23.
The Sunday Sun submitted questions to Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith on this issue, and he promised to review them and get back to the newspaper with a response. (MB)
