KINGSTON – The Jamaica police service has been hit by a high number of absentees and is relying on the support of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to help maintain law and order on the island.
“We are deploying members from our offices; as usual we have the assistance of the Jamaica Defence Force, and so far we are responding well,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake, told RJR News here on Tuesday.
On Monday, hundreds of police officers, represented by the Police Federation, reported sick for work amid ongoing wage negotiations with the government.
The police are reported to have rejected the Government’s wage offer six per cent with four per cent in the first year and two per cent in the second year. The law enforcement officials had originally been offered a three per cent wage hike.
The main opposition People’s National party (PNP) has called on the Andrew Holness government to immediately settle the wage issues with the police and other public sector workers.
In a statement, the party said police services, including deployment to the island’s courts, were disrupted and PNP Shadow Minister on National Security, Fitz Jackson, said in the face of the skyrocketing murder rate, mobility challenges and a de-motivated police force, Jamaicans will approach the Christmas season with trepidation.
Jackson said it should be clear to the government by this, that the current wage offer will lead to serious industrial relations issues in the public sector and widespread disruption of critical services.
The PNP contends that that an improved wage offer is possible within the terms of the International Monetary fund (IMF) agreement. (CMC)