Attempts are being made by the State to charge several leading members of the associations representing arms of national security under the Sedition Act.
Sources said yesterday that was one of the reasons why heads of the bodies, representing the Police, Prisons and Fire Services, had to hold a meeting and press conference at an abandoned building in Port-of-Spain, was to address their concerns over stalled salary negotiations and safety issues.
Speaking during the press conference, president of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association Anand Ramesar said although his members would comply with the law, their turnout for Fantastic Friday (tomorrow) and upcoming Carnival events could be in jeopardy.
He said the police were disgruntled and fed up with the lack of concern over their salary dispute and believe Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar must intervene at this point.
“Enough is enough. It ends today. The officers are not going on without baton, a gun, or a bullet-proof vest. Take notice and take it into consideration. We want to perform but don’t take us for fools,” Ramesar said
He said his colleagues had turned out for the National Panorama semi-finals despite threatening not to do so because they were under the belief their issue would have been addressed during a meeting on Tuesday with the Chief Personnel Officer. However, he said, those negotiations again failed.
“This is what the results of the culmination of frustration are. They started to talk about it but with the expectations they would respond to their plight and now there is no respect for the police officer,” he added.
Despite that, he said the police would not do anything illegal.
At the press conference, the police complained they were being threatened by other members of the service for their stance.
They noted that several ministers recently said members of the protective services were not supposed to take protest action as it was against the law. Some officers said they were under scrutiny and believed their phones were even tapped.
President of the Prison Officers Association Ceron Richards said his members turned out yesterday to give support and move with solidarity.
“We need the public to realise that something is wrong. There are officers in other organisations making more. We have to pool together,” he said.
Fire Services Association president Leo Ramkissoon said his organisation was supposed to be leading in the market in jobs that were receiving a good compensation package.
“We are supposed to inspire others to be officers and attract the youths. We also have a brain drain,” he said.