The Police Federation is angry at the Portia Simpson Miller Administration for what it sees as a blatant disregard on the part of Government in addressing it’s request that buses be provided to transport off-duty officers home after they finish their tours of duty. The Government is negligent on a host of issues that’s for sure but I do not see this request as a practical solution to the problem. In a scathing speech a few days ago at the funeral service of slain woman constable Crystal Thomas, Federation Chairman Raymond Wilson blasted the Government for it’s failure to accede to the Federation’s request for transportation.
If the Government accedes to the request of police officers , it opens itself to acceding to similar requests from all other category of public sector workers , including Nurses, Doctors and all other categories of public sector workers who have to travel at nights. It is impractical for Government to provide buses to facilitate those requests which are sure to come were it to grant the request of the Police.
Additionally the Government operates a public bus company which makes that prospect counter intuitive.
It is sad and indeed a serious indictment on the state of the country’s when the public transport system is not safe for commuters regardless of their status.
No transportation system in the world is totally safe . Criminals are always prying for soft spots across the globe criminals prey on public transportation systems where they believe their will be less law enforcement presence. The fluid nature of transportation systems also helps criminals in their escape plans after they have committed crimes.
The challenge for the country in this regard is three-fold. (1) Improve the ability of the police to prevent crimes. (2) Improve the ability of the police to catch offenders after they commit crimes and (3) Improve the criminal Justice system so that criminals can spend longer time in prison for the crimes they commit.
Federation chairman
ALTERNATIVE.
In my estimation I believe that the federation can do a better job on it’s own. Members pay fees to the Federation, if necessary seek permission from members of the rank-and file toward securing a little bigger contribution to the Federation ‑fund which would provide low interest loans to members desirous of purchasing their own cars. This fund would grow over time allowing the Federation to do more for it’s membership.
ADDITIONALLY
Additionally the Federation could take a similar proposal to Government asking for it’s help in starting that fund as part of the negotiations for better wage a working conditions. A commitment of say M$30- M$50 from Government coupled with whatever the Federation can scrape together would go a long way toward alleviating that problem.
If managed properly that would negate the need for the Federation to make some demands of Government as the fund would grow and increase in value.
A plan of that nature would absolutely be popular with the rank and file. Naturally not everyone who apply would be able to receive a loan initially so it should be done solely on the basis of the amount of loans the fund can afford per year.
Doable?
I thing so , where there is a will there is a way . It requires a little imagination and ingenuity. Obviously the Police will have to do more for themselves if the Administration has no money or more sinister,.. refuses to help.
Mr. Beckles for the first time i am disagreeing with you on aspect of your blog. Firstly, i do agree that everyone is at risk when travelling on anything or anywhere in Jamaica. However, how many time have you heard of someone being shot and killed simply because of their profession. This is what police officers are faced with everyday, they are being shot at, criticized, victimized, murdered simply because they are police officers and they pose a threat to criminals. Therefore its quite necessary that police officer be treated differently from other public sector workers because the hazards and dangers they face by just wearing the uniform is non conparable to other class of workers. I agree with you though that the police federation can help police officers acquire loans at lower interest rates to alleviate the problem of transportation.
I understand Sharnet , (smile) when I started reading your response I thought you did not realize thatI offered up a solution to the problem, but then I realized that indeed you did see that I did.
My dear Sharnet I am a former detective , I spent a me\re 10 years before leaving the JCf. I cried when woman constable Johnstnon was objectified, abused and murdered while travelling on a bus to work.
She had no means of defending herself, she was identified as police officer by the uniform she had in her bag.
I cried like a baby when I heard the news.
I am happy to say I was among the small group of officers who eradicated those vermin from the face of the earth..
Police Officers are paid to make the public secure. On that basis the optics is not exactly good when we say our members should not have to be exposed to public transport when it is our jobs to secure the nation.
I believe the bigger issue however is that Police officers who risk their lives everyday are unable to afford motorcars.
Hence my suggestion that the Federation be creative and intuitive.
This is not new when I was at Motorized Patrol in 84 – 87 there were Transportation for Police leaving work ‚8−4 and 4 – 12 so it can be done.But with due respect to your opinion Mike if other workers dont start the if they get it we want it too ‚its just re-starting it, but not sure if the we want it too comes along what to do about it