TT cops flee to Bermuda in disgust

SEVERAL frustrated junior police officers have left the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to join the Bermuda Police Service for a more lucrative offer, sources told Newsday yesterday.

According to an advertisement posted in daily newspapers here, the starting salary for the junior officers in the Bermuda Police Service is approximately $50,000 annually inclusive of additional benefits (under review) and opportunities to earn overtime.  “Bermuda $$ is on par with US$,” the advertisement states further. Senior police officers told Newsday that the basic salary here for a Police Constable with five years and under service, is $2,861 per month with a meal allowance of $345. Single officers get a house allowance of $500, while married officers get $750 house allowance. Police constables with five years and over in TT get a monthly allowance of $3,070.  The advertisement also said that the Bermuda Police Service also offers an excellent benefits package including single accomodation (at a low cost), free medical and dental as well as 24 days annual leave.

The advertisement states further that the Bermuda Police Service department is looking to recruit police constables who are current members of a police service to join their establishment for a contract period of five years. “We are offering an excellent opportunity to work in a multi-cultural environment.  We are a service with established core values and a commitment to ensuring quality service to a multi-ethnic community.  We are also an equal opportunity employer,” the ad said. Contacted yesterday, police service association president, acting Insp Christopher Holder confirmed that junior officers have left the Police Service, and that another set have applied to the Bermuda Police Service. “There are better opportunities there (in Bermuda) and because of the low morale and promotion process the environment here becomes frustrated,” he said.

Bermuda’s acting Commissioner of Police George Jackson told Newsday yesterday that Trinidad and Tobago police officers are not the only targets, but junior officers in other Caribbean countries as well. “We have been getting a favourable response from all the islands,” Jackson said, not wanting to say exactly how many TT cops had joined their service. Holder, too, could not give an exact figure, and other senior officers have said that the Turks and Caicos is also offering similar contracts to police officers.