The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has expressed frustration with what it says is government’s failure to amend section 10 of the Police Medical Insurance Act.
According to a statement from the Chairman of the PWA Jefferson Drigo, members are disappointed and are running out of patience.
Drigo complained during a press conference held in September, 2018, by an act of parliament, CLICO is the medical insurance for the police and it takes months for a claim to be refunded .
“We have been patient and we are getting impatient and as such the PWA and its members will be holding a meeting on Friday 23rd November to discuss particularly the Police Medical Insurance, salary negotiations, accommodation among other topics,” he said.
Drigo said it is frustrating for police officers that a claim for their insurance is taking in excess of nine month and, “this is getting to them”.
“Police officers can no longer take it…,” he stressed.
He said further that in the interim, the PWA hopes that “the government can come to their senses” and go to Parliament to amend the law governing the police medical insurance.
“Because it’s frustrating; it is not working and they need absolutely to amend this,” he repeated.
Drigo revealed that the PWA has a lawyer to assist with the drafting and has asked for a meeting with the Chief of Police to discuss it.
He said a date was given but had to be cancelled and the association was waiting on the Chief of Police to provide another date.
He added, “We are trying our best to work with the administration and the government to get section 10 of the Police Act to amend it so that we can have a new insurance policy governing the Police Medical Insurance.”
Drigo is calling on all police officers to turn out on Friday to the special general meeting.
Meantime, he said another issue is that of victimization in terms of police men being stationed very far from their homes to work and it’s getting extremely difficult.
“To get to work they have to pay a lot of money and to get back to their homes,” he explained. “This is another question we have been begging the administration to put police officers a little closer to their homes to accommodate them and their families.”
Drigo also mentioned promotion as another area in which policemen are being victimized.
“Some say senior men are being bypassed and sidelined…,” he stated.
Go find another job,aren’t you qualify to do another profession than police. Everything is frustrating you,so why are you still there crying…oh please..
wicked you wicked sacray boohooe why they still crying eh? the pm looking for increase in pension and a vehicle every five years and nothing for them? damn wicked set of people in that country … doe worry God will deal with all you… let the flood waters rain on you wicked evil people and wipe you all of the face of the Earth.
I agree with you…. some of them people in that country to darn wicked….first of all they have a mongol chief and deputy first time i see a chief and deputy that against his own men just because of politicians… is they that are the leaders they should be fighting for a better salary and better working condition for their men instead they fighting down their men… these guys are not leaders they are the ones who have the governemnt doing all them mishief I’m the country.. you officers and nurse and teachers have to rise up and get rid of that governemnt… get rid of the gov so that that deputy .. chief. .president..speaker of the house…aND all the rest could be removed fired axpelled kicred out or possibly even jailed so society can move forward. Do it now or never … failure to get rid of that gov then I sorry for that country….
At the end of the day you all get what you deserve. You let the dictator misuse you as his private army instead of doing the things a proper police officer should do as outlined by the Constitution. In case you are in any doubt what a proper policeman should do just try this to start of with, implement and enforce the law of the country, investigate crime thoroughly and protect the citizens of Dominica. All the things you are doing right now are not part and parcel of the oath you swore. Think again!
“10. (l) From the date of the implementation of the Group Health and Group Life Insurance Schemes Government shall pay directly to the Colonial Life Insurance Company (Trinidad) Limited 55% of the monthly premium in respect of —
(a) Group Health — policy number: 3-
1574, and
(b) Group Life — policy number: 34251, for the benefit of each police officer who is insured under the Scheme.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) the amount payable is —
(a) 55% of 112 dollars and seven cents for farnily coverage; and
(b) 55% of 47 dollars and forty seven cents for single coverage.
(3) Any police officer who is not a party to the Schemes referred to in subsection (1) shall be entitled to free medical and surgical treatment subject to such conditions as are prescribed by Regulations made under the authority of this Act.
So, are police offices free to opt out of the CLICO Scheme? If I were a police officer I would do so and take the free medical and surgical treatment. It appears…
I thought Erica and Maria affected the economy significantly.
Skerrit will wave his magic wand and everything will be perfect at once….right.
Dominicans think its just so simple to run the affairs of a country. Come and live in the UK and compete with the 365,000 homeless people sleeping out in the cold winter on cardboard boxes…abandoned by their government. Oh, better yet, go to America and count the homeless veterans all sleeping out in the snow on cardboard, then compare yourselves to them and see just how fortunate you all are in Dominica. When you are through doing that, ask yourselves why are you so ungrateful and not thankful and content in the current circumstances so soon after those terrible disasters.
Does that make Dominica any better?
Shame on you pm the state police officers work in and that again skerrit and his carbal must go
Time for the police to NOT WORK.
Why are people in this country so fearful it will ONLY get worse.
Then you will be made to come to WORK with NO PAY!!!!!!
time to put down guns and take a stand
Jefferson you better check the government pay the insurance premium on time because that could well be the reason for the delays in settling your claims. Good luck my boy.
This Skerrit-led regime finds it convenient to pay high powered attorneys exorbitant fees to persecute members of the Opposition on trumped up charges, to employ overpriced advisors who only give bad advice and to form an elephantine Cabinet of unproductive Ministers Meanwhile, the police, nurses, port workers, motorists, lawyers, post office employees, pensioners and thousands of unemployed citizens are living a hellish nightmare. Bad working conditions, political victimization, harassment, starvation wages, false promises, disrespect, frustration have taken a toll on the people’s health. These are the reasons that so many sought medical attention onboard the Chinese floating hospital ship.
Use your votes to rid the country of this pestilence.
I can feel the frustration….
Let’s vote them out,since the writing is on all the walls all around the country,that they are going …Don’t be used as a tool to suppress the citizens democratic rights.
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
Survivors still waiting for payment years after losing a parent. Then we say we care SMDH. They need to change this insurance company. Drigo i support you 100%. Too much hypocrisy in this place