Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Fitz Jackson (left), Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Planning; and Corporal Raymond Wilson, chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, sign the 2004/2006 agreement between Government and the Police Federation. In the background from left are Wentworth Charles, attorney for the federation and Sergeant David White, an executive member of the federation. The signing took place yesterday at the Ministry of Finance and Planning at National Heroes Circle. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
GOVERNMENT WILL have to fork out $400 million to compensate rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), as part of its wage negotiation settlement. The agreement was signed yesterday.
This means that rank-and-file members, regardless of their rank, will each receive a $50,000 lump sum payment which is non-taxable. They will be paid $40,000 next month and $10,000 in February 2006.
"They will also benefit from a $60 million housing agreement between the Ministry of National Security and the National Housing Trust," said National Security Minister, Peter Phillips. This will be operated as a revolving loan scheme over a two-year period.
HOUSING GRANT
Government will provide $20 million of the amount in the form of a grant, while the NHT will put up the other $40 million. The maximum amount per individual is $250,000, which will be loaned at six per cent over a three-year period.
The agreement was signed yesterday between Dr. Phillips, his Permanent Secretary Gilbert Scott, State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Fitz Jackson, and chairman of the Police Federation, Corporal Raymond Wilson.
It took the federation two hours from the scheduled time, before it actually signed the agreement. In explaining the delay, Mr. Jackson said the federation had expressed concern regarding some wording in the agreement, and had sought legal advice on the matter.
The Central Executive of the Police Federation, along with a number of delegates, arrived shortly after 1:00 p.m., in the company of attorney-at-law, Wentworth Charles.
Before signing the document, Corporal Wilson stressed that having gone through 31 meetings with the Government was a clear indication that the police were willing to negotiate.
One outspoken delegate who accompanied the executive members of the federation said: "We are signing this with a heavy heart." This was shared by a number of rank-and-file members who turned up to witness the signing.
The federation was advised that in keeping with the wage policy adopted by the Government, there would be no offer on salaries, allowances or any other salary-related matter, for the contract period, April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2006.
Government and the Police Federation were locked in negotiations since May last year. During the period, talks broke down on several occasions with the police resorting to industrial action twice.
The following are some of the increases that have been agreed to:
Death benefit to be increased from $4 million to $4.5 million
Funeral grant up from $100,000 to $150,000
30 scholarships per year to go to children of police officers attending university
$1.25 million to provide scholarships for children of police officers in high schools, who have an average B plus grade.
$2 million education grant to assist members with tuition.
