Carl Gilchrist

Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson says the government has not abdicated its responsibility to pay the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) the seven per cent salary increase both parties agreed to.

In answering questions about the outstanding issue from JCF members at their conference held at Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios on Wednesday, Nelson said government has recognised that it has a contractual responsibility to pay the outstanding sum.

“I will continue to make my input in discussions and deliberation. Every meeting the government has had with trade union leaders, I have been asked to attend because of my antecedent, let me be clear that there is no position that says the 7 per cent will not be paid. There is no abdication of our contractual responsibility; government has not said it will not pay it,” Nelson told the conference.

“The Government has said it recognise and accepts that it has a contractual responsibility to live up to the provisions of the agreement; what we are talking about now is how do we address it; I will continue to make my intervention on your behalf in government deliberation and discussions pursuant to bringing finality to this matter.”

The minister also gave the assurance that immediate attention would be paid to the Falmouth police station after he was informed by a federation member on the floor that officers there have been working in sub-human conditions.

Police Federation chairman, Sergeant Raymond Wilson, told the minister that during high tide, water from the sea and sewage backs up into the building that is now being used to house the officers.

Minister Nelson said no one should work in such condition and assured that his permanent secretary would look into the matter and if conditions as described exist, the staff would be relocated.

He said the legal issues that held up the construction of a new police station in Falmouth have been resolved and this should now pave the way for construction to begin.

In the meantime, Minister Nelson said the government has started a pilot project costing $12 million, on the issue of electronic monitoring of sex offenders and early parolees, by the use of ankle bracelets.

The minister also said that members of the police force should not have to be concerned with things like protective gears. He said government has been holding discussions with bilateral partners in an effort to have these supplies provided.

However, the minister was reluctant to commit to a timeline where these issues are concerned.