The leadership of the Jamaica Police Federation is demanding face-to-face talks with Finance Minister Audley Shaw today.

The federation leaders are scheduled to continue wage discussions at the finance ministry today, but they have made it clear that they think it would be a waste of time if Shaw was not present.

Yesterday, members of the federation met with state minister in the finance ministry, Arthur Willams, and other officials of the ministry but left the meeting less than satisfied.

"I don't believe that the Government was prepared to address our concerns. There was no appropriate response to our demands and no alternatives that we could take back to our members," Sergeant Raymond Wilson, chairman of the police federation, told The Gleaner.

"It does not make sense that we talk to persons who have to take it to the minister. We are demanding that we talk with the finance minister so that there can be serious resolution of the issues," Wilson added.

He said while the finance ministry pointed to Shaw's closing Budget announcement that housing allowance to members of the security forces would remain tax-free, there was no clarity on the other allowances.

"We are adamant that the wage freeze should not extend to our members and we want the matter to be settled quickly as another month end is coming up and the police want their money," Wilson said.

Yesterday's meeting came less than 24 hours after members of the police force, below the rank of deputy superintendent, vowed to take action to back their demand for the immediate payment of the seven per cent salary increase, slated to be paid starting April 1.

At a meeting at the police training academy in St Catherine, the policemen and women said while they expect to be targeted, they would not back down from a fight over the wage increase.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com