Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
A very vocal Inspector Ethel Halliman expresses her views about the present wage impasse between rank-and-file police and Government. She was among hundreds of police personnel from across the island who attended a mass meeting, called by the Police Federation, on Ocean Boulevard in downtown Kingston yesterday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE POLICE Federation has given the G,overnment until 10:30 this morning
to deliver a suitable response to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) demands for a wage increase, or face "swift and decisive action".
At a mass meeting of rank-and-file police officers at the Kingston waterfront yesterday, general secretary of the federation, Corporal Hartley Stewart said the federation would be meeting with National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips at 10:00 a.m. today. He said that if no suitable solution to the wage and fringe benefits impasse is offered by the minister within half an hour of the meeting, then the rank-and-file members of the JCF would be told immediately what to do next.
He did not say exactly what the federation would be asking the police to do, but when he spoke with The Gleaner after the meeting, he noted that the action would be firm and far-reaching. "Maybe we have not been giving enough trouble. I think the time has come to give more trouble," he said.
The Government and police have been involved in wage negotiations for the past 17 months, meeting more than 30 times. But these negotiations are at a deadlock.
Police Federation chairman, Corporal Raymond Wilson, in his address to the few hundred policemen and women who turned out for yesterday's meeting, said word would be announced this evening on action to be taken by the police tomorrow morning.
FALSE REPORTS
He also said that contrary to some media reports, the police have not agreed to accept a one-off payment of $40,000 for each member. He contended that the government is intentionally issuing false reports, in an effort to "divide and conquer".
Businessman Mark Azan, who was also at the meeting, urged the police to hold firm to their demands. "Governments that have nation building at heart respect the need to have a well-trained and well-paid police force," he said to thunderous applause.
Yesterday's meeting was scantily attended, however, the members of the JCF who did turn up, were forceful in their call for an immediate solution to the situation. From songs to dub poetry, the policemen and women used several methods to voice their opinions. One such method, was an impromptu rendition of "Don't you trouble the police, the police have the key to lock down the country."