Blackmoore commends police officers; says only 56 took part in sickout

Police officers keep eye on protesters near parliament on Tuesday

Minister for National Security and Justice, Rayburn Blackmoore, has commended the members of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force for their diligence in carrying out their duties saying that they have “made us as Dominicans and the rest of the world proud.”

Police officers were said to be on sickout on Tuesday, May 23 but Blackmoore said only 56 officers called in sick for reasons unknown.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday May 24th 2017, Blackmoore said members of the Police Force have been understanding in the oath that they have taken to serve the country, and in return the government has acted in their favor.

“The majority of the police officers in this beautiful country, Madam Speaker know that the Dominica Labour Party, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has done well for the Dominica Police Force,” he stated. “I am tying that to the fact that the government continues to provide for the police to ensure that the police carries out his work efficiently and well.”

Blackmoore stated that the police authority carries out its services for the good of the country, as recited in its oath, and not for political affiliation.

“Nowhere in this oath has said that I will serve the Dominica Labour Party or the United Workers Party. A police officer serves the people of Dominica, the country of Dominica and when we go to them, we have to have the assurance that the police officers have our backs, Madam Speaker,” Blackmoore said.

He added that attempts to, in some way, “construe or bite into” the rhetoric of a political party, cannot be identified as serving the country.

The government and the police, represented by the Police Welfare Association, have been at odds over the salary negotiations for 2015-2018 triennium with the association rejecting a wage freeze for the period and asking for 15 percent salary increase.

Blackmoore said the sickout on Tuesday was not due to a breakdown in the negotiation process.

“I have been advised by the Labor Commissioner that negotiations between the government negotiating team and the police haven’t experienced any breakdown Madam Speaker,” he said. “The question is, the 56 police officers who reported sick yesterday, Madam Speaker, what was the reason?”

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

33 Comments

  1. May 26, 2017

    They are too corrupted they deserve whatever they get..

  2. Dodadodaday
    May 25, 2017

    $300 million in passport sales in less than one year and babylon boops cant get a raise – yet they trying to stop the people fighting against this atrocity – what jokers !

    • Dan is de man in de Van
      May 25, 2017

      Babylon boobs. I dying lol.

    • Be Good
      May 26, 2017

      you full this money cat not be used to pay any gov workers get this right. that’s why you all party not in office they could pay workers

  3. Shameless
    May 25, 2017

    “I have been advised by the Labor Commissioner that negotiations between the government negotiating team and the police haven’t experienced any breakdown Madam Speaker,” he said. “The question is, the 56 police officers who reported sick yesterday, Madam Speaker, what was the reason?”

    Blackmore you are not telling the truth. The labour commissioner NEVR said what you have just stated. STOP twisting the man\’s words to fit your agenda. And yes, the police want their money (increase) so this is the reason why they had the sick out. It has nothing to do with UWP because the force is now the military wing of the DLP. STOP lying to the people sir

    Assertive like Moses\’ rod! :twisted: :twisted:

  4. freedom fighter
    May 25, 2017

    Blackmore the 56 Police Officers is not the problem but the entire Police Force where law and order will be broken down if not already by their grievances caused by your administration sidelining and insulting them. Only the Populace will suffer.

  5. jeff Francis
    May 25, 2017

    all the rest are singing for their supper!!

  6. Titiwi
    May 25, 2017

    Mr. Blackmoore’s address in the House yesterday flags up a problem and instead of chastising policemen it would be better for him to ascertain why there is this high incidence of sick-outs and address it. To question the loyalty and dedication of the police to the country is not helpful and only serves to inflame the situation. He is using the privileges of the House to whip them, where they have no opportunity to defend themselves. Mr. Blackmoore, as a former police officer himself should understand the force’s grievances. I do not think that any of our policemen and women, who took the oath, take pleasure in reporting sick like this. Support the police Mr. Bklackmoore, make them feel wanted and appreciated. Don’t politicize them and stop emulating your leader’s modus operandi of divide-&-rule. You may not realise it now but you could be a victim of that strategy yourself.

  7. Former Police Officer
    May 25, 2017

    It is very interesting that in the absence of a public health advisory issued by the Ministry of Health (as in the case of the Chickigunia some years ago), 56 police officers could report sick. That is a significant number considering the man power strength of the police. It begs the question? What went wrong? What is it that is existing in the police force (particularly Portsmouth and Marigot) that would cause so many police officers to report sick at a time when it was well reported that the opposition was planning protest action? That should not be allowed to go unchecked. Was a Medical Doctor involved? I do not know. Were they back on the job the day after? How did their action affect the planned operations of the police force to maintain law and order at a time when there was every indication that the opposition was planning civil unrest in the streets of Roseau and elsewhere?

  8. May 25, 2017

    They meet Sadam Husain in a hole and they meet Gadafi in a drain.

    • CONSCIENCE
      May 25, 2017

      And they will meet you in JAIL

    • Be Good
      May 26, 2017

      where will they meet you ?

  9. General tibz
    May 24, 2017

    So what are the steps that will be taken. You intend to fire the 56 police officers mr Blackmore? I smell a rat
    Po

  10. concern citizen
    May 24, 2017

    So if so be the case why should the government give any increase to them like 5, 5, 5, the 57 only should receive the increase because the rest of them are well satisfied with the way things are

  11. TRUTH
    May 24, 2017

    I was expecting the officers too stay home!! Since March I been saying that; and it will be worst…

  12. KID ON THE BLOCK
    May 24, 2017

    EXAMINE THEIR HORNS, The 56 policemen that called out sick. They are the ones aiding and abetting. Traitors on board and the Government must be careful of the intention of those culprits. They playing SMART but THEY are not clever.

  13. Hendricks ismael
    May 24, 2017

    We need more Sam Raphael in dominica not more police sick outs.

  14. Ray
    May 24, 2017

    Stand together Dominica police force. You will all welcome the pay increase so don’t make only one set stand up. You must stand together, not for party, red, blue or other you need to stand for your salary increase.

  15. Possie Direct
    May 24, 2017

    But Blackmore that’s huge you know boss! I mean out of 400 officers 56 of the called sick, which is 14%, you trying to down play that? Man never have I heard of that many officers calling sick in Dominica before. It didn’t happen under PJ, OJ, Mama, Eddo, Rosie, and Pierro so to have 14% of them calling sick when they knew their was going to be protest action in the capital speaks volume sir! Boss not even your officers are happy with your government? If 14% of those that are not afraid of the government went on strike you have to think of another 60% of unhappy officers, but they are some how afraid to act; that CANNOT be taken as a joke Blackmore. That tells me your force is divided and that makes Dominica very unsafe!

    • Be Good
      May 26, 2017

      get a life 60.000 Dominicans vs 56 lol what a joke you are

  16. headbanger
    May 24, 2017

    Well did you bother asking them the reason before trying to score a political point out of it in parliament ?

  17. Tj
    May 24, 2017

    The amount of absent police officers is sending a message. Lead rs take the message and do right

  18. free
    May 24, 2017

    A lot of them on sick out and that is good. Stand up for your rights and Country.

  19. LifeandDeath
    May 24, 2017

    Blackmoore is absolutely right..’cause if the Police was serious they would all sick out and collect their money on Monday morning..Skerrit has it..he just said how much money floating at the Banks..

  20. done&done
    May 24, 2017

    Some of these officers needs to lose some weight real bad. Hard to be productive being so heavy.

  21. %
    May 24, 2017

    These are 56 real officers,,,NOT your GOONS!! WELL DONE 56 GENUINE OFFICERS!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!
    SKERRIT MUST GO!!
    SKERRIT MUST GO NOW!!!!

  22. Lucy
    May 24, 2017

    Ok the well learned and read Blackmoore- only 56 out of 10,000 officers? You do not make any sense Rayburn. What are you and your pal Roosevelt are going to do? Fire them———- Mr. Hon? So if about 12% of your troops deserted or are killed is that not significant Mr. educated and well informed Blackmoore?

    • BEB
      May 26, 2017

      At present the strength of Police Force is well below 500, so I do not know where did u get ur 10.000 from

  23. truth
    May 24, 2017

    you have the right to say that, because they have a commitment to the country, But the ministers have a commitment to themselves

  24. lasspalay
    May 24, 2017

    Stupes tan with that DA there.

  25. Patience
    May 24, 2017

    That’s why you all should continue disrespecting them … you all have plugged out there fethers and left them hopeless now they are feeding from the scrums of your table. What greater loyalty can you find

  26. papa
    May 24, 2017

    57smart ones

    • underworld
      May 25, 2017

      smart indeed…what a shame on this Government treatment of law enforcement officers!!!

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available