(Trinidad Express) The Government yesterday claimed victory after planned sick-out action by police officers to stay at home for a day of “rest and reflection” crumbled with more than 80 per cent of the officers turning up for duty.
National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy, Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and the Government yesterday commended the officers for their dedication to duty after they rejected calls to stay away from the job.
In downtown Port of Spain there were more soldiers than police officers on foot patrol. However, there was a high presence of marked police vehicles patrolling in and around the city.
A response from the Government insisted the high turnout had bolstered the image of the dedicated men and women who continue to rank among the nation’s finest. The Government said it was grateful to officers for not abandoning their duties.
Several security measures were implemented by the Ministry of National Security, which included the deployment of regimental police officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment.
There is no word on whether any action will be taken against police officers who decided to “rest and reflect”.
Officers had threatened to call in sick and stay at home yesterday to “rest and reflect” to demonstrate their disgust with the Chief Personnel Officer’s (CPO) offer of a five per cent increase in salaries.
On Friday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, during a walkabout in downtown Port of Spain, warned officers who planned to stay away from work yesterday.
“We will not stand idly by and witness this wanton act of abandonment and dereliction of duty take place without an appropriate measured response,” she said.
Her statements angered police officers who said they would not be intimidated.
Speaking on TV6’s Morning Edition yesterday, Sandy said if officers were aware of the consequences they could face under the Industrial Relations Act chapter 88:01 section 67, they would re-think their decision to stage any sick-out action.
The act states an employer or worker carrying on or engaged in an essential service shall not take industrial action in connection with any such essential service and is liable to a fine of $1,000 and to imprisonment for six months.
Sandy maintained that police officers play a key role in ensuring security in the country, and they ought to be paid well, but at the same time, he said officers must remember the oath they took to protect and serve.
He also dismissed claims that the Government was looking for confrontation with officers, maintaining that the offer being put forward is all the Government can afford at this time.
In a press release yesterday, Sandy said: “I wish to commend the officers for their patriotism and commitment to duty, their nationalism and above all, placing the security and safety of citizens above themselves.
“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is appreciative of their efforts. I know that the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are also appreciative of the sacrifices made by the members of the Police Service,” Sandy said.
He added that only the Western and Northern Division demonstrated a lower than usual absenteeism rate, while in Tobago, there was a 70 per cent turnout.
When the Express visited the Crown Point station yesterday, a female police officer was the only person in the charge room.
Several other divisions in Trinidad also experienced turnouts of between 77-100 per cent.
In expressing his gratitude to police officers who turned up for duty, Commissioner Gibbs said while there was some measure of absenteeism, the general turnout in the divisions was excellent.
“In Northern Division court services were affected, however, contingencies were put in place that ensured general policing services to the public continued without disruption.
“In Western Division it should be noted that absenteeism was not confined to one particular station or section but distributed throughout the Division. This allowed for adequate policing services to the public.”
“In Tobago the numbers represent turnout throughout the entire island, taking into account all police stations. Due to prior planning and contingencies put in place, there was little or no disruption of policing services to the general public. Overall, all reports made to the police were attended to,” Gibbs said.
