The officers met Wednesday and later announced that they are "fed-up" by what they said is the "high-handed approach" by Government and the executive of the Police Service.
However the Police Social and Welfare Association, which represents the officers, has distanced itself from the decision to stay away from work.
Secretary of the Association Sgt. Michael Seales told reporters no member of the association’s executive was invited to attended the central committee meeting at which the officers took their decision to be absent from duty.
Seales added: “It is a very sad issue. We have tried to get officers to stay on the job. Negotiations have been dragging for four years but if officers are so minded about their day of rest and reflection the association has no moral authority to stop them.”
The officers have posted flyers on notice boards at police stations and at the offices of all elite units of the Police Service, including the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB), whose members will likely be called out to maintain law and order.
The caption on the flyer is: “21st Century Policing vs five per cent. Work like an elephant eat like an ant.”It urges officers to reject the final offer of five per cent made last Wednesday by Chief Personnel Officer Stephanie Lewis.
The document also highlights many of the grievances of the officers, which include extra duties and working in unacceptable conditions.
Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson told local media the Police Service has contingency plans to deal with the planned action by officers.
“We would hope that officers do not stay home at all. That is the first contingency we have,” Richardson told the Guardian media. “We have been speaking to the officers. We met with them with the hope good sense will prevail,” Richardson added.
Richardson said he has faith that officers will ignore the call to stay away. “We are hoping officers will not put the nation under stress and I strongly believe they will turn out for duty,” he said.
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