T&T police choose to 'protect and serve' instead of 'rest and reflect'

The majority of police officers turned out to work on Monday instead of taking the day off as threatened to 'rest and reflect' as a protest against the wage offer made to them by the government's Chief Personnel Officer.

A media release Monday from the ministry of foreign affairs and communication stated, "Police Officers have demonstrated their commitment to their duties and responsibilities, and have come out in their various divisions, in many cases with over an 80% volume of attendance." 

The release said only two divisions - Northern and Western - demonstrated a lower than standard rate of absenteeism. "In Tobago, whilst there was an overall turnout of approximately 70%, only three stations experienced significant levels of absenteeism," the release said.

It said attendance varied between 100 per cent and 77 per cent. The release gave a breakdown of attendance at the various divisions:

• Tobago – Overall 70% turnout 
• Central Division – 77% 
• Port –Of – Spain – 77% 
• Eastern Division – 100% 
• Northern Division – 30% 
• Southern Division – 80% 
• North Eastern Division – 86% 
• Western Division – 43% 
• North Eastern Division – 86% 
• IATF - 93% 
• GED – 100% 
• Traffic - 90% 
• CID – 93%