The Industrial Court on Monday threw out the Police Welfare Association's application to stop the 21st-century policing project.
The president of the court, Deborah Thomas-Felix, rejected the documents filed by the Association's president Sgt Anand Ramesar, stating that applications relating to police labour cannot be brought against the Commissioner of Police but instead must be brought to the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO).
She suggested that the project may be illegal because the CPO was not involved in drafting its terms and conditions.
The matter was heard by a special tribunal, comprising Thomas-Felix, the court’s vice president Ramchand Lutchmedial and the chairman of the Essential Services Division, Vernon Ashby.
The tribunal concluded that the documents were not properly filed and therefore the court could not hear the matter.
Thomas-Felix emphasised that agreements relating to the terms and conditions of work of police officers must be filed at the Industrial Court.
“So, first of all, you have no documents which suggest that both parties agreed to this initiative. We have nothing in our registry,” Thomas-Felix added.
Ramesar said he is pleased with the ruling since it points to the illegality project as illegal. "The association has now formed the opinion that every action of the Commissioner of Police in relation to the 21st-century policing project is illegal as it no longer involves the CPO,” Ramesar said.
He said the association will not support the project. “It is affecting terms and conditions. It ought not to move forward until it involves the CPO,” Ramesar added.
“We have no documentation that the CPO would have been involved in the project when it began. The working of police officers outside the regulations and the stipulated terms and conditions as it is now, in so far as it does not involve the CPO is illegal," he said.
Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations Jack Ewatski said he is pleased with the court's decision. “We intend to continue to work with the association to make the service more effective and efficient,” he said.
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| Deborah Thomas-Felix |
She suggested that the project may be illegal because the CPO was not involved in drafting its terms and conditions.
The matter was heard by a special tribunal, comprising Thomas-Felix, the court’s vice president Ramchand Lutchmedial and the chairman of the Essential Services Division, Vernon Ashby.
The tribunal concluded that the documents were not properly filed and therefore the court could not hear the matter.
Thomas-Felix emphasised that agreements relating to the terms and conditions of work of police officers must be filed at the Industrial Court.
“So, first of all, you have no documents which suggest that both parties agreed to this initiative. We have nothing in our registry,” Thomas-Felix added.
Ramesar said he is pleased with the ruling since it points to the illegality project as illegal. "The association has now formed the opinion that every action of the Commissioner of Police in relation to the 21st-century policing project is illegal as it no longer involves the CPO,” Ramesar said.
He said the association will not support the project. “It is affecting terms and conditions. It ought not to move forward until it involves the CPO,” Ramesar added.
“We have no documentation that the CPO would have been involved in the project when it began. The working of police officers outside the regulations and the stipulated terms and conditions as it is now, in so far as it does not involve the CPO is illegal," he said.
Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations Jack Ewatski said he is pleased with the court's decision. “We intend to continue to work with the association to make the service more effective and efficient,” he said.
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