Union wants seat in shutdown talks
Published:Friday | May 3, 2019 | 12:00 AMRomario Scott/Gleaner Writer
The union that represents rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force says it wants a seat at the table in discussions over the disbandment of the 57-year-old Mobile Reserve Unit.
Yesterday, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang said the scrapping of the strike force, of more than 500 personnel, was the start of major reforms of the JCF.
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Corporal Arleen McBean, said her organisation was yet to be formally informed of the disbandment.
Chang did not say what would happen to JCF members attached to the unit.
But in an initial reaction, McBean said the Police Federation was not against the transformation process of the force but urged dialogue and caution.
“We are never averse to the reformation or transformation process ... because change must be constant. However, you cannot throw out the baby with the bath water,” McBean stated.
She called for “the successes” of the Mobile Reserve to be examined even with the stain related to the bloody firefight involving policemen attached to the unit that took place in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Saturday night.
High-level probes have been triggered and a resulting casualty is the unit’s head, Senior Superintendent Terrence Bent, who has been sent on leave.
“Whilst we will not say as yet that we welcome the move, because we are still awaiting an update from our minister, there must be a detailed analysis on the strategic direction going forward to implement the [necessary] systems so that you’ll have better service being given to the citizens of Jamaica who deserve it more than anything else,” the Police Federation chairman said.
“It is the norm for the minister of national security to include us in this discussion, so we are awaiting ... the invitation,” the police corporal said.