Police officers are smiling all the way to the bank as the majority have received their backpay. The rest, however, are expected to receive their monies by the end of this month.
Contacted yesterday, newly-installed president of the Police Service Social and Welfare , Insp Michael Seales, said the membership was pleased that Government had fulfilled its promise.
He said some 70 per cent had received backpay and those who did not was as the result of some minor issues regarding the processing of documents.
“This would be issues relating to overpayment and sick leave. But the matter is being sorted out and we are confident that the officers would in fact be paid,” Seales added.
Seales, who is on suspension and is facing sedition changes following statement made on a morning programme last year, won the recently concluded association election by a landslide.
However, there have been calls by his detractors to step down amid claims that he would bring the Police Service into disrepute.
But Seales shot back saying, “The membership have spoken.”
Several officers described Seales as a “model officer,” who is always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, adding that he had the welfare of officers at heart.
Other officers even expressed surprise that Seales was charged in the first place and vowed to continue to rally around him.
Runner-up for the post of president, Insp Richard Taylor, from the slate Vanguards, had said Seales’ predicament could have a negative impact on the Police Service.
“He is before the court for a criminal matter and is representing a law body. The public will view us in a particular way. It will not augur too well with us in terms of how the public will view us.
“We want to ask the public with regards to Seales on suspension and leading the organisation, we know the public will have a particular perception of us. We are hoping that they will not paint us with the same broad brush,” Richards said.
Second runner-up for the top post, Cpl Darlington Francis, of Police For Police, after congratulating Seales on his victory had also raised the issue that he was a suspended police officer leading a police association.
Francis said: “I am very concerned that he may not be able to serve his third term because the Police Commissioner can only second an officer to the Police Association if he is an active member of the service. It was okay while he was an active member and then suspended.”