Mark Titus, Freelance Writer
Wilson
Western Bureau:
Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Cpl. Raymond Wilson, is urging Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas to rid the force of corrupt gazetted officers, and is demanding an immediate implementation of a 40-hour work week for the rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
"We have been reliably advised that some managers (officers) who are deploying police personnel to private commercial events to work for free are closely affiliated with security companies which are being paid millions to work at the said event," Wilson said.
Abusing your officer
"Isn't this corruption?" he asked. "Isn't this abusing your officer for private gain?" Corporal Wilson was speaking yesterday at the 64th annual conference of the Jamaica Police Federation being held in Trelawny.
"Using your office to deploy people under the circumstances explained is one of the biggest forms of corruption," he stated.
"If we are going to weed out corruption, weed out the grass eaters and the meat eaters," he declared to loud cheers from the over 300 delegates in attendance.
He continued that: "While other public sector workers are working 40 hours per week, members of the JCF are working over 70 hours per week. This means that the members of the force are working an excess of 30 hours per week without compensation. However, we the members of the federation are convinced that a 40-hour work week can be implemented immediately."
Other caribbean territories
Mr. Wilson noted that the police in some Caribbean territories currently work a 40-hour week.
Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Philips, who addressed the delegates, said the excessive working hours of members of the JCF was an area of fundamental concern to his ministry, since it speaks directly to the quality of policing in Jamaica and constitutes one of the most basic elements of a modernised police force.
"You will be pleased to know that the Cabinet fully supports the principle of establishing hours of work for police officers that will bring the JCF in line with national standards," he said.
