It is public knowledge that earlier this month the Police Welfare Association (PWA) called on officers posted to the Traffic Department to abandon the premises of that department due to infestation by rats. We are also fully aware of the threats to the health and wellbeing of police officers by the presence of bed bugs at police headquarters.
The PWA is of the view that the issue of rat infestation of certain work areas in the Police Service is a matter that has been, and that will continue to be internal to the management of the Police force but having due regard to the right of the public to be informed.
It bears noting that for the past six months, the management of the Police Force had been dealing with the issue of rat infestation in certain work areas in the Police Service. The PWA reiterates its calls for that matter to be handled properly and effectively by the appropriate and competent health authorities. The PWA wants to place on record its appreciation for the expression of interest in the health and wellbeing of police officers by the officials and senior public officers of the Ministry of National Security which expression of interest was further demonstrated by a visit to look for rat droppings at the premises of the Traffic Department after 4 days of intensive and thorough cleaning of those premises.
The PWA also wants to place on record that as far as it is aware, there is not any subordinate police officer who suffers from any personal shortcoming as regards carrying out his or her obligations in relation to his or her personal hygiene.
However, the PWA would welcome every effort by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security to put a shine in the offices and other work places of police officers.
As regards the mobility of police officers within the police force, the PWA will continue to advocate for the use of best practices and standards such as seniority and merit set out in the law.
Elu Charles lawyer for the PWA was also at the press conference and labeled the statements by PS in the ministry of national security Joann Commodore as “unfortunate.”
“It is a rather unfortunate statement of the PS and we do feel sorry for her,” Charles stated.
The police say they make no apologies for their statements.
“We stand by the statement of the unusual presence of rats at the traffic department which was cause for concern and was reported to the PWA and we had to take remedial action and also forced to go to the media,” Jeffery James .
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