600 cops blanked Carnival

This resulted in in some ports of entry being unmanned, officers who showed up for work having to double up on and in some instances, having to work excessively long hours to ensure Carnival activities were properly manned.

The mass absenteeism resulted in concern being expressed by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Gold Commander for Carnival 2017, Acting DCP Deodath Dulalchan. A post mortem on Carnival 2017 is expected to take place shortly and the Police Social Welfare Association (PSWA) is asking for it to be a part of the examination process.

PSWA president Inspector Michael Seales yesterday said a lot of problems were experienced by association members during Carnival, which is what prompted the PSWA’s call to be a part of the post mortem. Seales said that based on reports from liaison officers in five areas, where Carnival activities took place, the PSWA received reports of sour (spoiled) lunches being provided to police by caterers; a lack of rest rooms for female officers; extremely difficult and long working hours ordered by seniors and other issues.

Seales said if the 600 absenteeism figure is accurate, all is not well when it came to planning for Carnival.

“The Association looks at this issue in the context that the Service has to do some introspection because if that tally is correct, you have to consider the wellness of the organisation. It is a worrying figure at a time when a national event is being hosted,” Seales said.

It is understood some officers who did not turn up for duty are officers who were on vacation leave and who ignored the directive to return to active duty for Carnival, which began on Fantastic Friday and ended at midnight on Carnival Tuesday.

The Association feels that those officers on vacation should not have been called out in the first place.

Newsday was told that reports from PSWA liaison officers who visited officers on duty in where Carnival activities were heavily concentrated, revealed several problems. At the John Donaldson Technical Institute off Wrightson Road, lunch served to officers was declared spoiled and officers were forced to buy their own lunches.

At NAPA, absenteeism was noted and officers who turned up complained about accommodation.

Meals were also served late. At the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau, the 90 strong regular staff was whittled down to 50, which left various ports of entry either unmanned or understaffed.

Sources revealed that the absenteeism resulted in a shortage of manpower at the Piarco International Airport.

Liaison officers from the PSWA have since recommended to Association executives that for Carnival 2018, there should be the introduction of a three shift, eighthour system to avoid officers being overworked; a quality and quantity review of meals provided; toilets placed at areas manned by police officers for their use only among other recommendations.