KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mounting frustration is brewing within the Jamaica Police Federation as the organisation accuses the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service of stalling on critical wage and benefits negotiations for the 2025–2027 contract period.
The Federation says repeated requests for urgent talks have gone unanswered, with no formal offer tabled and no concrete meeting date set, despite months of correspondence. Two formal letters — sent on June 25 and July 25 this year — were met only with a brief response on July 29, stating that Finance Minister Fayval Williams was overseas, but offering no timeline for engagement.
Chairman of the Federation, Sergeant Arleen McBean, says this silence is eroding trust and contradicts principles of good faith in industrial relations. She recalls that during a May 6 meeting tied to Phase Two of the Compensation Review, the Federation was promised early discussions on the upcoming contract. Three months later, that commitment remains unfulfilled.
“This is not just a delay — it is a complete disregard for the rank-and-file officers who deliver results on the ground,” McBean stated. “The country praises a historic drop in major crimes, but the very people responsible are being sidelined when it comes to fair compensation talks.”
McBean warned that officers are “restive” and view the ministry’s inaction as a sign of disrespect. She urged Minister Williams to set an immediate meeting date, stressing that the police have earned the right to be heard.
“We cannot continue to work at this pace, deliver on national security goals, and be met with silence when it comes to our welfare,” she said. “The rank-and-file members are demanding more than promises. We want action.”
If you want, I can also prepare an even more hard-hitting version that frames this as a looming industrial standoff rather than just a delay. That would push it toward a breaking-news or political-pressure angle.
