Police are threatening to call in sick at divisions across Trinidad and Tobago next week to press demands for better pay.
And although in the past the Police Association has not supported the action, it appears that the association is changing its tune.
Sgt Anand Ramesar, who is president of the association told reporters police officers are threatening to cripple key areas of the Police Service, including units that handle intelligence gathering.
"The membership is now seeing ‘blue flu’ being transformed to a “blue tsunami” with a lot of nuclear leakages with the capacity to poison every effort of the present administration” Ramesar told one newspaper.
Ramesar and members of his association held a meeting with government's Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) Stephanie Lewis in another negotiating session which he desscribed as “rough,”
Ramesar claimed that “There was a clear unwillingness to take into consideration the values consistent with policing, inclusive of the competencies and skills that police officers are required to perform on a daily basis.”
He insisted there is “no way” that police officers would accept the five per cent, which the government has said is its final offer.
“The CPO’s approach is also one that definitely does not auger well with our membership and I am clear to the point that I am certain this would not fit well with our membership,” he said.
“They would have already demonstrated this informally by what we have come to know as the ‘blue flu.'...I am getting a clear indication that the “blue tsunami” is about to take place and it may take place as early as next week,” he said.
He called the move an “informal action” by police officers and said it will have a "debilitating effect on any and all crime prevention and reducing initiatives.”
“Every conceivable area within the Police Service will be affected, including Special Reserve Officers (SRP) and City Police. The ‘blue flu’ was extremely mild compared to the “blue tsunami” that is about to hit,” he warned.
Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of crime, Jack Ewatski, has said there are “contingency plans in place to deal with any situation.” He added, “I have looked at the activities of our officers over the Carnival season and I am very proud of the way they performed, despite ongoing negotiations and I expect that they to continue to serve and protect the citizens.”
And although in the past the Police Association has not supported the action, it appears that the association is changing its tune.
Sgt Anand Ramesar, who is president of the association told reporters police officers are threatening to cripple key areas of the Police Service, including units that handle intelligence gathering.
"The membership is now seeing ‘blue flu’ being transformed to a “blue tsunami” with a lot of nuclear leakages with the capacity to poison every effort of the present administration” Ramesar told one newspaper.
Ramesar and members of his association held a meeting with government's Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) Stephanie Lewis in another negotiating session which he desscribed as “rough,”
Ramesar claimed that “There was a clear unwillingness to take into consideration the values consistent with policing, inclusive of the competencies and skills that police officers are required to perform on a daily basis.”
He insisted there is “no way” that police officers would accept the five per cent, which the government has said is its final offer.
“The CPO’s approach is also one that definitely does not auger well with our membership and I am clear to the point that I am certain this would not fit well with our membership,” he said.
“They would have already demonstrated this informally by what we have come to know as the ‘blue flu.'...I am getting a clear indication that the “blue tsunami” is about to take place and it may take place as early as next week,” he said.
He called the move an “informal action” by police officers and said it will have a "debilitating effect on any and all crime prevention and reducing initiatives.”
“Every conceivable area within the Police Service will be affected, including Special Reserve Officers (SRP) and City Police. The ‘blue flu’ was extremely mild compared to the “blue tsunami” that is about to hit,” he warned.
Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of crime, Jack Ewatski, has said there are “contingency plans in place to deal with any situation.” He added, “I have looked at the activities of our officers over the Carnival season and I am very proud of the way they performed, despite ongoing negotiations and I expect that they to continue to serve and protect the citizens.”
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