Keep providing support to active and retired cops, Chang tells past members’ association
Published:Monday | July 1, 2024 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang says that while strides have been made in improving the various benefits offered to both active and retired police personnel, support must still be provided to ensure that they receive those benefits in a timely and satisfactory manner.
Chang made the assertion on Sunday while addressing the 30th anniversary church service of the Association of Past Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (APMJCF) Chapter One division, held at the St James Parish Church in Montego Bay under the theme ‘Inspiring a United, Caring, and Sharing Society’.
“The welfare of police officers remained unaddressed and on an unsatisfactory level for many years and across successive political administrations. It was with this in mind that this Government initiated action spearheaded by the then-outgoing [now former] Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, and revamped the JCF’s welfare department. For the first time in the organisation’s history, the officers began to receive timely responses to queries about their pension, health, and other benefits,” Chang told the congregation.
“The fact is that padding public-sector salaries, and in particular police officers, with allowances over the years was reckless and did not protect the long-term welfare of our officers, which is why many of our officers have had to migrate or leave early and earn early retirement in order to start another profession to earn their pension,” Chang added.
“As a result of the compensation review and restructuring, the allowances are incorporated into their salaries, and therefore when they retire, they can look forward to a more meaningful pension. It’s not where it should be yet, but it makes a lot of difference when in fact they retire, and officers can look at their pension coming in on time to, at least, prevent them from having to rush and pick up a job.”
Pay more for fewer benefits
As far back as 2011, the issue of pension reform was a significant concern for Jamaica’s police personnel, with the Jamaica Police Federation calling for specific details outlining how the Government would address the lack of clarity on that subject.
At that time, the federation’s chairman, Constable Franz Morrison, suggested that based on the organisation’s assessment of the Green Paper on pension reform, it could be interpreted as police officers being asked to pay more for fewer benefits.
The federation voiced unease again in 2017 that the Government had begun debating the Pensions (Public Service) Act of 2016 when there were still unresolved issues in relation to the police to include concerns about changes to the arrangements for early retirement, which had been negotiated by the police at the time.
During Sunday’s church service, Chang urged the members of the APMJCF to uphold its mandate of seeing to the well-being of former police personnel who may have fallen on difficult times since their retirement.
“These men and women worked tirelessly and courageously to combat criminal violence in Jamaica and maintain public order and safety in our country with distinction, yet far too many of them have fallen on extremely hard times after they leave active service. I am, therefore, encouraging that they have the APMJCF looking out for them and providing a level of support to the various members,” said Chang.
Harris Daley, the president of the APMJCF’s Chapter One division, which encompasses St James, Trelawny, Hanover, and Westmoreland, noted that the organisation has spearheaded various initiatives to aid the holistic well-being of its members.
“The welfare of past members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force is paramount, and through welfare programmes, we work hard to ensure that our members have dignified retirements. Our memorandum of understanding with the National Health Fund has resulted in health fairs and sensitisation sessions to heighten awareness of health and wellness programmes and benefits, and the main message is ‘prevention is better than cure, do regular health checks, and above all, take good care of yourselves through a regime of diet, exercise, and taking care of your mental health,” said Daley.
“We are in the process of forging stronger links with our APMJFC overseas chapter. Many of our past members in the diaspora are scattered across the profession, such as medicine, law, and education, and these members are willing to help with social-outreach programmes that can benefit Jamaica. The APMJCF’s Chapter One is on the mission to inspire, care, and share with a vision of collaborative partnership, which can make a difference in strengthening the safety and security of our nation and improve welfare for our members,” Daley added.