Half back pay possible, POA told

Members of the three Associations have since last year been calling for back pay for the period 2011-2013, to be paid.

Imbert via letters to the three associations indicated the first half of the back pay will be paid by September. This commitment was kept.

Imbert’s letter also indicated that the second half of the back pay will be paid by March 31.

However, officials from the accounting departments of the three associations indicated to association heads that no new information was forthcoming from the Finance Ministry on the second part of the back pay. “I had a discussion with minister this morning and based on that we are to believe the monies will be released on a timely basis to facilitate payment by March 31. We will not accept anything less than what arose out of a written agreement coming from that minister to all three associations,” Richards said on Monday.

Secretary of the Police Social Welfare Association (PSWA) Ag ASP Anand Ramesar, asked to comment on the issue said, “this ambiguous response in relation to the commitment to pay police officers their back pay is most disconcerting.

The Minister must know that there was a clear accommodation by the protective services affording him the option to pay the back pay in two parts, Ramesar said.

Given that the demand of the membership was full payment up front and that a split in payment was always in the interest of the Minister and not in the interest of workers, the Police Association expects nothing less than full compliance to pay the back pay at the end of March. “Anything less will not be tolerated,” Ramesar warned.

Attempts to reach President of the Fire Services Association (FSA) Leo Ramkissoon for comment, proved futile