Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
THERE IS no pension scheme for the island's district constables, many of whom have been experiencing severe financial hardships after they retire because of old age or ill health.
Some of the district constables who are members of the United District Constables Association (UDCA) had a meeting last week and voiced their disapproval that although they performed similar duties like members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, they could not retire at age 60. They said many of them had to work beyond age 70 because they had no other source of income.
They are calling on the government to pass the relevant law so that a pension scheme can be put in place for them.
"Some of us have been serving for 35 to 40 years, this is the only job we have, we work the regular eight-hour shift and yet when we retire there are no long-term benefits for us," one of them said. They said it was "disgraceful" to see the conditions under which some district constables live after serving for 40 to 50 years.
According to the district constables, some of their colleagues have lost their lives in the line of duty and they referred to the attack on May 4 on the Cross Roads Police Station when District Constable Canute Brown was shot dead by criminals while on duty. They also pointed out that although they were required to work every day, if they were absent from work for a day, they were not paid for the day.
CALL FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
"We are aware that we are not classified as permanent workers but because of the invaluable and dedicated service we are giving to our country, it is now full time for the government to give serious consideration to our plight and take steps to have the law amended so we can get a pension,'' said Uriel Samuels who has served for 33 years.
There is a deduction of $150 monthly from the salaries of the 700 district constables who are all members of the UDCA, but they say they are not given financial statements or informed how the money is being spent.
