Police officers have vowed to continue to struggle with the government in their quest for a 15 percent pay increase for the 2015-2018 triennium.
The government has proposed a wage freeze for the period, which was turned down by the Police Welfare Association (PWA).
At a meeting held in the conference room of Police headquarters on Friday March 24, 2017, members of the association voted unanimously against government’s wage freeze and say they are in total support and agreement with the proposal of the executive of the Police Welfare Association (PWA).
Corporal David Andrew Jr., the secretary of the PWA, explained that the meeting was to inform members as to what has transpired recently as it relates to salary negotiations and also the comments made by the chief of police of allegations of “subversion” by members of the police force.
“We can say categorically, that the PWA and its membership denounce any form of subversion and we have no part in any form of subversion and we were very disappointed and disturbed by the statements made by the Chief of Police and we the members are asking that the Chief retracts his statement and apologize and if he does not we will be exploring all our options in that regard,” he said.
According to the PWA secretary, a meeting which was originally planned with the government negotiating team did not materialize but his members are “in high spirit and united.”
“The men are in high spirits…it was one of the most well-attended meetings in the history of the general meetings of the PWA. The men are in high spirits and high morals and are standing there ground. What they are saying is that they want their fair share of the pie and that is 5, 5, 5, (15%) and they stand in solidarity of the PWA executive. We are going to demand for salary increase,” he said.
Andrew revealed that in his 16 years as a police officer, he has never seen that level of unity within the ranks of the police force before.
“The officers are in unity, they are happy and motivated and that’s what we are talking about. A police force is supposed to be united. Our goal is always to serve the public to give that level of safety and security that the state requires and we will never negate from that responsibility,” he stated.
ALLU want more money but allu not doing allu job.
The power of the people is greater than the people in power!!! I say it’s time for a strike if demands are not met.. we sit and take everything thrown at us!! Time to take a stand!!These are the men and women who leave their families to serve and protect the public….treat them better than that!!
The PM must deal with these police that trying to destroy dominica with there greedy increase they want. Labor will not bow to the preasure they want to put on us them police. all i know is that we in labor will remember our friends and we know how to deal with enemies and traitors. So you mean them police cannot even make a little sacrifice f0or the sake of the country. I cannot understand that.
Brothers and Sisters, we feel your Pain, caught between a Rock and a Hard Place. Dammed if you do! Dammed if you Dont! Those of us who been there done that, it comes as no surprise, to us, sometimes we say things have changed and we have to Revolve around change, all good in contex, but fundermentally, if a House is divided amongst itself it will not stand! If we`re not part of the soulution we `re part of the problem, look in the mirror and see who is looking back at us? We were often reminded that, ” A Chain is as Strong as it`s Weakest link! who are we kidding? Lets be Real! There`s lots of weak Link in our Police Service. The truth offends, too bad! you give them an Inch and they`ll take a yard”. Persons only Respect us when we Demand Respect. All else is as per usual! division, and all man and woman looking for them self. SMH! As Malcolm X, so eloquently said, IF we stand for nothing, we are going to fall for every thing. Analize That!
Too many cliches BRP. Please, try something original for a change to inspire us.
SO ANYTHING SAID OR DONE THAT SEEMS TO GO AGAINST SKERRIT ALLU LABOURITES ACTING THE FOOL????!!!!!
People have the right to stand up for what they believe in, currently that is an increase in salaries… and that by no means make them hungry, makes them bad or makes them an enemy of Skerrit.
Skerrit and his supporters need to understand this. EVERYONE HAS THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO STAND FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN & last I checked Dominica is a democratic country.
Two things I don’t understand and probably will never understand: 1. How on God’s earth can a government find money to distribute like ration in every village and town, to every person dressed in red, and yet that same government is telling law officers whose job is to guard and protect our democracy that he has no money to pay them an increase?
2. How on God’s earth can big men and women sit there and allow Roosevelt Skerrit to treat them like little boys and girls with pampa, while depending on them to protect him and the nation? I don’t get it!
Right now the police officers should change their focus from continuing to struggle with the government to one where they are demanding the resignation of the government. They need to just arrest Skerrit and take him in for questioning about the source of all the monies Skerrit have dishing out.
These fat police officers are asking for a pay rise on what basis? They sit all day playing dominoes; cooking and breeding in every village they work.The extra money that they are asking for should be used on another project to develop and employ those that are jobless.
The basis is that they worked for it!!!! And they too have families and expenses to meet.
wicked soul…if you are a public servant go to hell
Hello and good morning my people. First I must say that I support the Officers and their request for a wage increase but I would prefer that Mr Andrew refer to his members as Officers or member rather than men at all times. I am suggesting that the Officers should engage in a rule book slow down but the union shouldn’t endorse it ,in that way the Police Commissioner or the Prime Minister cannot hold the union responsible. We all should want our Officers to perform their duties as per regulations issued by the leadership.
When will they vow to do their work?
See how thepo lice force come, for me is better inspector mills go and work by nassif where he work two years ago.
Daniel in the Lions den. He does not care about the SSU, DRUG SQUAD, TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT, IMMIGRATION, AND GENERAL,
SPECIAL BRANCH AND FIU he cares about. And clevil. Mills, cprl François
Not all police officers for you and your nonsense carby. Your heart not trouble sir? St Lucia police officer man is long time they get out the headquarters. You all guys soft
What about Drigo et al? because their politics is different to Mills they must stay?
The men with the guns should be on the best wages work hard and get jacked….
Charles police come on other countries need men like u
Policemen and women good people deserve better………………
Those who want additional salary must consider their duty to the country and nationals, to be exercised in accordance with their enforcement principle and regulation.
There is nothing fighting for a salary increase which you feel you are entitled. However, do this peacefully and with dignity becoming of your position. Have patience!
Your confreres overseas experience the same. You are not alone. Even the progressive countries which have more money, have the same salary problem.
When last you police officers practiced the faith? When last you prayed for yourself, your government, your country and other nationals?
People talk, argue and put up a fight, wanting immediate results but they ignore The One who could make all things happen in time. His Name is God!
Live the faith. Pray and pray on. One day you will obtain your request. Know that everything takes time.
I have faith in you guys…there are good men in Dominica and all that evil need for it to prevail is that they do nothing.. Keep up the fight guys your life’s are worth it. Never settle for less than you deserve.
Nurses what about you,you too need to get United and demand your needs.Nurses are also at risk and in danger of being infected with all kinds of illness. They are at risk for injuries at the work place due to the fact that they deal with all walks of life from the mentally ill to gangsters and the likes. They get insulted by the very same person’s they have to take care of. The nurses need some form of risk allowance so they can take care of themselves. Majority of nurses are women and are more vulnerable to be taken advantage of.Poor security especially at the Portsmouth hospital sometimes the nurses themselves man’s the door when their ”security” is sick and still have to take care of their patients. All for $20 a night. Nurse take a page out of the police men books stand together you deserve better. You are the least payed health workers in the lesser Antilles.
ice men carries guns to protect
Carbon removed all the curtains in the conference room. desperation!
And how about teachers. Government should know that if you pay peanuts you will get makak.
No Mamzel, that is mr. Carbons response to the request for more transparency, hahaha!
I am in full support with you all…It cannot be right that Skerrit is giving out money around the ccountry,and at the same time he has the audacity to tell you all to accept 0%,0%,0%….Hope that you all mean business…THIS IS MADNESS.
Don’t you guys worry Skerro must give that, he said the E C C B boss say doh pay salary with C B I money but what he using to pay N E P, 70 Plus, School transfer grant, and all the other political move he making there?
That prime minister needs to do more for civil servants. Why does he hate the public servants so much? Is it because they are small in numbers and he feels like he doesn’t need their votes to win an election. When D-DAY took place is the same public servants he depended on. What would have happened in roseau if not for the efforts of the fire and police officers, nurses etc The chief abusing the officers “all off cancelled” is his favourite song and yet still these men continue to serve the state with such bravery. THEY DESERVE THE 15%
Skerritt cannot afford to lose all you, he will come up with the funds at the eleventh hour.
He’d better be quick because it is already one minute to midnight.
All u looking like all u hungry bad spirits strike
Being hungry is not a bad thing. hunger incites action, diminishes fear and causes people to find solutions. So stop with your ignorance.
wen police arrest any body is the prison officers that is taking care of them is the prison officers who are indeed of the raise
The men are in high spirits. What about the women? Tasha P will write a song on all you eh!
I was wondering the same. Aren’t there any women on the force?
Dam good my brother in total support. Keep the struggle on not only they who have to get a piece of the pie already they have SQUARE PEGS IN WRONG HOLE getting promoted and eating chrome of the pie.
A police force is suppose to make any government of the day tremble on the negotiation table…I really thought that this police force were children in police uniforms up to last week…Now I am glad to see unification within the force. You guys have financial responsibilities, lives to protect ect…Garcon fight for all your rights.
Good for you guys. You can not have a speaker of the House doubling her salary, especially when we hardly have a sitting of that institution, and have the boys & girls of the police biting on wood. No Sir, pay them to keep them committed to protecting all of us.
And the same time the police have to guard the lady and her house? And she wants to talk about impugning improper motives? I never hear that expression till I see her shuffle in the House and now it is fixed on my brain, impugning improper motives. Shame on her.
Hold Strong Police and PWA. DAT & PSU make sure all you in that too!
There is strength in Unity – time to start holding joint meetings and issuing joint statements on this issue. What affects ONE, affects ALL!
Please also vow to do your work diligently. Service jobs are about love for society and not about money
sylvia Maronie, people need money to satisfy their BASic Needs. note i say BASIC NEEds. Basic social studies 101 would have taught you that. It would be too long and u might get confussed if i start to talk about inflation, economics and stagnant salaries etc.
Stop repeating other peoples nonsense..Can you eat love for country?Can love for country pay your loan,send your children to school,build you a house,etc..I know love for Skerrit can do that for you because you are lazy.So what you are picking up from under Skerrits table,the rest of the population deserves it too.
Go and tell the P.M. and the President that. They should set an example but appear to follow different principles.
Well allu mean business papa! But with all that 5, 5 ,5 allu want I hope allu will up the performance! Too many lackadaisical cops in DA…
Willy, the next time you are being beaten by your woman or man, do not call the cops to come to your rescue. Without these increases, we will not come.