Police protest 5% wage increase

Port-of-Spain (CMC):

Head of the Police Second Division Social Welfare Association, Anand Ramesar yesterday warned that he expects more police officers to stay away from their jobs as they protest the government's five per cent wage offer.

Speaking on local radio, Ramesar confirmed that several officers had stayed away from their jobs on Monday resulting in the Special Branch Unit officers being called out to do guard duty at the private residences of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.

Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs said that a contingency plan had been instituted and National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy urged for "good sense" to prevail.

"We have hard-working police officers out there, the majority of them are, and I support them all the time. I think that good sense will prevail and they will realise that this is our country and we must make it safe, and those officers have sworn to protect and serve and protect and serve with pride. And I trust that they will do that tomorrow and all the days after," Sandy said.

In a statement Gibbs said that the "core work" of the police continues, adding "we have redeployed personnel within the divisions to ensure public safety is maintained.

"Our main concern is the public's safety and security," Gibbs said in the statement.

The commissioner said while he supported officers being paid a reasonable salary for their services, he did not support them not showing up for work which had the potential to put the safety of citizens at risk.