The Prisons Officers Association yesterday signed a Memorandum of Agreement for a five per cent wage increase which was offered by the Chief Personnel Officer, Stephanie Lewis. Government will pay an excess of $80 million in allowances, backpay and arrears to the Prison Service. The agreement is a five per cent increase in salary distributed two per cent in 2008, one per cent in 2009 and two per cent in 2010. The T&T Guardian reported exclusively on September 7 that the association had agreed to sign for the five per cent increase as members voted 94 in favour against 54 for the wage increase.
In an interview outside the CPO's office yesterday, president of the association, Rajkumar Ramroop, said the five per cent does not reflect the quality of prisons officers. "We play an integral part in reducing crime and for far too long we have not been recognised by the Ministry of National Security and the Commissioner of Prisons (John Rougier)," he said. "The membership gave a mandate to go forward and we signed but we are not in favour. The prison officers are worth more than five per cent. Money can't give a true reflection when you put your life on he line," Ramroop said.
He said the association had to ensure the safety and security of officers and had several issues to discuss in the near future with the Ministry of National Security. The release said the agreement made provision for the consolidation of the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) existing at December 31, 2007 with salary at that date plus a five per cent increase in salary distributed two per cent in 2008, one per cent in 2009 and two per cent in 2010.