By Claude Mills, Staff ReporterIN WHAT is widely regarded as an unprecedented move, the Government has instructed the Police Services Commission to place a temporary freeze on all promotions above the rank of Inspector in the police force.
"The Services Commission took the decision and there will not be any promotions for the time being ...we are not sure how long the freeze will last," a source at the Commission confirmed yesterday. "What we are hearing is that there are some scenarios which need to be addressed (before the freeze can be lifted).
THE COMMISSIONER
"The Commissioner is the only one who can speak more to the matter, as he met with the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security as to which matters would have to be addressed," the source added.
Efforts to reach Police Commissioner Francis Forbes yesterday for comments were unsuccessful.
There are currently 401 positions at the rank of inspector, 28 positions at the rank of senior superintendent, 64 superintendents, 142 at the rank of deputy superintendent, and 21 assistant superintendents. There are no vacancies in the post of assistant commissioner of police. Not all these officers are eligible for, or aspiring towards promotion, the source said.
However, the tremors of this latest move have rumbled through the ranks of the force, triggering anger and consternation among senior police officers, and rankled the Police Federation.
"It is true that there is a freeze on promotions, but we haven't got any details, and we're looking into the matter because it is a cause for concern," said Sergeant David White, chairman of the Federation.
"It is a demoralising move at this time for the police force because of the deplorable conditions and long hours under which we work, and now to be told that one of the motivating factors for the men to want to continue to work hard is gone. This is demoralising, I can't remember this ever happening before," White added.
The Federation plans to have a meeting later this month with the Police Services Commission to discuss the matter.
Derrick Smith, Opposition spokesman on National Security, believes the Commission may be responding to the recommendations made in June 2002 by the bi-partisan National Committee on Crime and Violence with regard to the reform of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
FLEXIBLE PERSONS
"My suspicion is that the Police Services Commission is responding to a recommendation that said that 'decisive action must be taken to allow younger, more flexible persons to come into leadership'. It was recommended that a management audit should have been completed within six months of the report. I am assuming that the management audit has been completed and the Services Commission is acting on the results of that audit now," Mr. Smith said.
