‘We have been treated like the poor cousin’

WESTERN BUREAU:

Frustrated by long-standing issues facing members across the island, a St Ann-based district constable is calling on the authorities to take immediate steps to address their concerns, noting that he is ready to have dialogue with the police commissioner.

“For far too long we have been treated like the poor cousin of this noble organisation which we serve,” the officer, who requested that his identity be withheld, told The Gleaner earlier this week.

“I would like the commissioner (Dr Kevin Blake) to meet with his district constables to discuss and hear our grouses. He is new to the post and still needs to adjust himself to his new office mandate and portfolio, but we will make ourselves ready when he is,” the disgruntled officer said.

The district constable argued that as members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) auxiliary, his colleagues deserve better treatment with regard to the ongoing salary negotiations, lengthy wait for overtime payments, and issues with permanent appointments.

Historically, district constables were attached to the Jamaica Rural Police Force and were assigned to police stations in the districts within which they reside. In 2017, however, they were made permanent government workers when Audley Shaw, the then minister of public service, announced plans to have 2,200 district constables join the ranks of the JCF.

The district constable told The Gleaner that while provisions were made in 2017 to improve the salary and incentives given to officers in his category, it is yet to “fully materialise”.

“The Government made 2,200 of us permanent workers, and from then until now, only approximately 500 of us have received an appointment. Most of our members are frustrated with the long wait, and what this has caused is a delay in our new pay increase,” he said. “When we, the district constables, made enquiries with our HR (human resource department), we were told that only 20 letters a month can be facilitated.”

He said that district constables were paid a basic salary of $61,000 before the compensation review. However, since April 2024, those who are permanently appointed are now receiving a basic salary of $154,000, while the others are paid $147,000.

“In the compensation review, the first increase was paid retroactively because of the time taken to agree. Our monthly payment was under the threshold, but still income tax was drawn from us,” he said.

Additionally, the district constable is urging that changes be made to the system that governs how overtime is managed, saying district constables are often left waiting for lengthy periods to receive the payments.

“Most of our members benefit from unscheduled overtime. The unscheduled overtime is applicable through a ticket that is completed by the person who has done the overtime. The ticket is then handed to the sub-officer for his signature. That same ticket must [also] be submitted to two other officers for their signatures,” he added.

While acknowledging the need for accountability and transparency, the district constable wants to see a speedier process, and possibly the use of technology to make it smoother and more efficient.

“Members complain about finding their overtime sheets and other members’ sheets in the back of the station diary and other books,” he said. He added that efforts to seek the assistance of Damion Pryce, president of the United District Constables Association, have been futile.

When The Gleaner contacted Pryce, he offered no clarifiction or update, referencing instead that salary negotiations are ongoing with the finance ministry.

“I am not interested in responding right now. There is not a problem right now, as far as I am concerned, with district constables. The association is still in the process of making things smooth. It is just time we are working with now,” said Pryce.