The executive of the Police Welfare Association (PWA) has hailed a meeting with the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) as “very fruitful.”
PWA and the government negotiating team are presently at loggerheads over salary and other fringe benefits for the triennium 2018 to 2021. The PWA is asking for 15% for 2018/2019, 15% for 2019/2020 and 15% for 2020/2021. The government has offered zero, zero, zero for the years in question.
In an exclusive interview chairman of the PWA, Cpl Jefferson Drigo revealed that the UWP negotiating team made the following proposals to his team.
“We were offered 2.5% for 2018-2019, 2.5% for 2019/2020 and 5% for 2020/2021 they have also decided to pay the insurance premium for all retired police officers for life since that is presently not being done,” Drigo stated.
According to him, a case was also made for the “special duty allowance” which is paid to SSU, Task Force etc of $450.00 to be paid to “all police officers” however he indicated that the UWP said that will be looked at.
“We also made a case for the “risk allowance” which is paid to just a few sections in the police force to also be paid across the board and also overtime allowance which is another burning issue for us to be looked at,” he said. Drigo stated that at present overtime allowance is not being paid to police officer in Dominica, BVI, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada and this “is unjust.”
“We are also police officer and our lives is also at risk, we have to at any hour of the night go out to investigate crimes and also traffic accidents and we are not entitled to risk allowance, that is unfair and unjust, we need that to be paid across the board to all police officers,” Drigo said.
The UWP negotiating he revealed did not give a commitment to that but promised to take a “firm look at it with a view to addressing the situation.
“I can say that the meeting was very cordial and fruitful,” he said.
Drigo, be careful what you ask for!
Interesting to hear that the PWA can negotiate with the opposition party( UWP) and the UWP can make such proposals and offers to the PWA…
2.5% for 2018-2019
2.5% for 2019-2020
5% for 2020-2021 and
even promising to pay insurance premium for ALL retired police officers for life. Even looking at paying
Special duty allowance, risk allowance and OVERTIME to ALL police officers.
After HURRICANE MARIA wasn’t it that same UWP that DID NOTHING in the REBUILDING PROCESS,and did not help ONE individual with some food or a shelter over his/her head claiming that THEY(UWP) are in opposition there is nothing in THEIR POWER THEY can do to help rebuild the country, Dominica?or anyone.
So how come TODAY THE UWP can find itself IN A POSITION making PROPOSALS to the PWA?! Are they not still in Opposition?
Where did the UWP find those monies and authority?
DRIGO, be careful WHAT YOU ASK FOR!
Excellent work officer Drigo. Much love and blessings !!!!!!
You labour hungry hyeenas supporters, just won’t get the point….
Loook now your prime Minister is called hungry hyeenas, dats what you guys should be checking…
If the police had Meet with Skeeritt you guys would not say a word.. It’s the fear in you allllll.
Those of you who think that Dominicans must sit n take Skerritt crap must back offf. Inch by inch Skerritt falling apart…..
The police can meet with any group to discuss… Give Mr Drigo a breakkk….
Leave the Reall Police officers alone……. You guys upside Down… N blind..
You guys don’t realize that you all are like cows, sheep, n other pets in front the money hungry hyeenas…
Shame on Pm Skeeritt, shame, shame shame….
One thing I know. You are not a reallll lllll n honest man….. Wicked n evil labor…
Mr. PM you better watch it. Mr drigo might be planning an overthrow aided by linton. Be very careful with those kind of people. No wonder no one can be arrested for all the nonsense happening.
Be careful.
Drigo, you forgot to ask Lennox how he going raise de money to make good these promises on top of the $25,000.00 he promised every Dominican if he get elected. Is it from that bogus missing CBI money he made up as an election gimmicK? If that’s the case and you and your fellow officers fall for that, then you are the biggest fools on earth and an embarrassment, and deserve the sack after the election. We need smarter officers than you lot in our police force.
It is unfortunate that the UWP have to subject itself to low down dirty games. You all are playing politics even with the police.
Mr. Drigo who are you to talk FOR POLICE IN OTHER COUNTRIES what the hell are you suggesting. Are you trying to destablize other police services in the countries mentioned.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME – PARDNER you will be tried for trying to DESTABILIZE THE REGION.
this guy Drigo will must regret one day for all the problems you are causing you are wicked, heartless, power hungry looking for attention.
When the REAL POLICE returned from their TOUR OF DUTY in GRENADA in 1984,the 82nd AIRBORNE RANGERS built a MILITARY RANGE at Trois Piton.The REAL POLICE were heavily trained,with M60,M16,night vision goggles and more.Hundreds of thousands of dollars was spent to construct the range.Today there are no REAL POLICE in the force.DRIGO is an EMBARRASSMENT to these PATRIOTIC POLICE OFFICERS.The RANGE has gone to waste.Drigo leading a few unpatriotic,lazy,traitors.
Mr. Drigo
Are you for real? Who is the UWP negotiating team? On what authority does it rest?
While you are at it why don’t you ask the party to send back all officers who have been transferred within the last three months and do it before the elections?
Mr. Drigo, there a fool hardy actions taken by people placed in positions of responsibility which have come back to haunt them. I view your actions as a frontal attack on the integrity and discipline of the Police Force.
I would imagine that there are processes and procedures prescribed for negotiations and other activities in the Police Force so why would you think that it is to your credit to actually notify the public that you have sat in negotiations with a political party, one in opposition at that on behalf of state employees.
Mr. Drigo you are just as misguided as the people who sat down with you. If that is their offering for good governance and integrity of institutions I don’t want to see the rest.
Well, if that’s the level of intelligence we have within our Police Force, God help us if we end up with a rogue like Linton in charge of our country.
Barbara, what’s your point now… Don’t you think your red envelope given will come to an end abruptly too?
Barbara Saunders, your comments are tainted with political bias, conceit and foolhardiness.
There is no other way to go but up under a new political dispensation for the police, nurses, teachers, in fact, all civil servants.
The low salaries, the unconducive working conditions are taking a physical and mental toll on all civil servants in Dominica .
Time to rid the government of these perverted oppressors.. Skerrit and his servile maids and butlers must exit office for Dominicans to get back their pride and patriotic fervour again.
Hmmmm,Thomas BALLS Letang did the same thing before the 2014 election and LENNOX LINTON LOST 15-6.You can jump high.Roseau Central,Roseau South and Wesley going LABOUR.For your information we are not ready to take ON UWP,because the PM told us not to.UWP ,………………………………………….
But what is happening in Dominica nah. Drigo what UWP has to do with all you issues. They are not in Government. Stop playing politics!!!! and stop using your position to push your UWP agenda. All you can come one week before elections and talk about this and that but LABOUR will get 5 more years!!!!!!!
lie,lie lie all u does lazy police ther when ever u all are called u all never show up. I wounder where all u going to investigate . stupes
Drigo u doing those things for your party to win elections. The actions u have taken will influence other Police Officers to vote for your party. How on God’s earth, an Opposition Leader keep saying, that Dominica has the worst economy in the Eastern Caribbean. So if that man becomes Prime Minister and meet an empty treasury and bad economy as he is predicting, how will your officers get a raised boss man. Stop using your position to push your party agenda. U are not a politician but the chairman of the Police Welfare Association
Well it looking as if the UWP will be the next government so now is as good a time as ever to start the business of running the country.
Yes, yes, Ohhhh yes, for sure yes, we desperately need change of government, as this failed corrupted Skerrit Labour Bobol government must Go. Too many weird and nefarious matters has taken place with our states resources. Bin Bobol, Fertilizer Bobol, Red Clinic Bobol and we need this Labour Bobol out of our office. Skerrit and his worthless so called fake Labour government has failed us and our country and reduced our people who were once active agricultural farmers producing alot of bananas, limes, provisions to live on, all this has been drowned by this clown Skerrit who now opens his office and calls it the the “Red Clinic” (where people que up and walk the steps to the fifth (tief) floor, an abuse of our states money. Skerrit has ignored this and now gives handouts insulting our people calling this fraud and fake government Red Clinic, come to me Skerrit, you have been a faliue, please get the hell out of our Dominica government. UWP will take over, clean up your mess. Be warned
Jayson
Their anxiety to be the next government is now becoming frightening. It is as if they will soon even invoke the devil to ensure that they do so. While all political parties would like to win I have never before witnessed such desperation.
It is in-country and overseas. I did not see the video but I understand the OAS episode with Gabriel Christian, Dr. Dangleben and company was pathetic and shocked everyone, including the people they were trying to impress.
There has to be more to this than meets the eye, trust me. I get the impression that life will end for some people if UWP does not win and there must be something we don’t know.
One roadblock of desperation after another. all associated with violent and intimidatory behaviour. I even heard calls this morning to go to the polling stations to make sure that unauthorised people do not vote.
One thing is certain, an election which is not free from fear cannot be fair, so UWP it is not only about the DLP but…
Yes I. This is a Dom move by the police. That could have been done after the election. You negotiating with an opposition that is not in office. Not smart at all. They will always give falls hope.
If the corrupt, incompetent government in office have negated them, what on earth you expect these committed devoted officers to do? Wait on Skerrit to offer us Bakes and Accra? Well, tell Skerrit, in his own words to: “Go to Hell, Go to Hell, Go to Hell, this is our damn business and you have to learn to listen and act professionally or get the hell out of our government. You have failed uu too much, we need you out of our government.
Skerrit, pack your bags, pick up Melissa and get the hell out of our government. We cannot have (that is this woman Melissa) in out government. Skerrit has failed, is immature, lacks the bigger picture of governance, not really an intellectual, but we see political games go one with the distribution of our states funds while our farmers are suffering. Skerrit killed our agriculture, has failed our people with sales of passports to weird people all over the world. Al Jazeera cornered Skerrit and just don`t know who are these people.
UWP be prepared.
Views expressed
Remember you know have to use the accusation of corruption with caution since the revelations of Sam Raphael and Al Jazeera. We will not be able to distinguish who you are referring to.
The Al Jazeera documentary had two parts remember? If you want people to accept the accuracy of the first part you cannot turn around and deny the legitimacy of the second part of the investigations sir. Moreso since it is the second bombshell revelation of the same
type of action.
So even you recognise that your people are not prepared? You now have to remind them 7 days away from an election that they should prepare?
Skerrit has brought no international airport to Dominica, no sustainable jobs, no efficient healthcare system, no increase in salaries of civil servants. All he has brought to the country is notoriety. The country is now known globally as a preferred destination where crooks, thieves and international fugitives of the law go to obtain diplomatic passports or to take refuge from the law. Dominica has the unfortunate distinctions of having one of the most corrupt leaders in the world. I’m sure most Dominicans bow their heads in shame when they travel and have to present their passports to immigration just like the Germans did in the past. Skerrit has stigmatized a whole nation of 65 000 people. How can anyone with a conscience or even a modicum of patriotism vote for this dishonest buffoon? One has to be brain dead.
Yes, be prepared for the beating you all will get on Dec. 6th at the polls. 5 more years for Skerro and the DLP.
This is the kind of arrogance and stupidity of Lennox Linton and the UWP I just cannot stand. You are not in power what kind of political gimmick is this. You are not in a position to negotiate salary with anyone. Give me a break
while skerrit dere talking rubbish on the platform, linton moving forward preparing for inevitable… Primeministership of this land!!! who vex choke!!!!
Workers give them 15% 15% 15% and all you must win.
Kalinago Justice
You just wait! You talk about one man regime? Aren’t you seeing and reading the signs? Whatever behaviour is displayed by a person where they are is a good indicator of what to expect if they are elevated.
– Jumping up and taking a salute which should be rightly done by the PM. -Travelling to Guyana to a CARICOM meeting uninvited and embarassing yourself;
– Telling children not to attend a national day parade to try to pit your influence against that of the PM;
-The Prime Minister gives you an opportunity after a disaster to sit in Cabinet and be part of the rebuilding process, the blood rushes to your head and you want him to resign to make way for you.
– Anybody in your party who dares to raise a question is almost beheaded.
– You are driving around with body guards before you even come close to the seat of honour.
– You couldn’t care less about D/CA as long as you get your moment in the limelight.
How do you interpret those indicators…
Barbara, you are a DLP sponge. You not only drink their red koolaid but you also lick clean the residual contents from the package. You swallow all the DLP unadulterated propaganda line, hook and sinker. You display the characteristics of one of Skerrit’s best trained lapdogs.