It has become the norm to get what we want by burning tyres in the road. Monday's "total policing" was the police's equivalent of burning tyres–encouraged by the Government because it is the only time they listen.
Many police officers work under dire conditions. Don't they have a right to better working conditions and wages in keeping with the office they hold?
Additionally, all this talk of low productivity, why didn't businessmen engage the Government in the discussion regarding the debilitating chikungunya virus? Didn't productivity throughout the country drop because of this illness, the effective of which, for many people, is long-term? The truth is, if it doesn't affect the business leaders personally, it's not important.
I hear some outcry that the police should be as dedicated all the time. True. But other employees/groups receive pay increases based on increased cost of living and job description, not on performance. That is another matter, to be addressed by the Police Commissioner.
Why are police to be treated differently? Granted, they may not be performing at optimum level but that is a matter for management.
If an officer is not performing satisfactorily, there are other steps that can be taken, as obtains in private enterprise. If it is thought they are not worthy of the salary increase they are demanding due to the qualifications required to become a policeman or policewoman, then it's up to the Commissioner, or whoever is authorised to do so, to raise the standards.
Again, these are all separate matters.
The police are simply asking for fair salaries and acceptable working conditions.
F Macintyre
?via e-mail