US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON1289

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001289 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
WHA/CAR (BENT), INL/LP (KBROWN), DS/IP/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KCRM, SNAR, ASEC, JM 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: POLICE OFFICERS CALL OUT SICK 
 
 
1. (U) On Monday, May 9, angry Jamaica Constabulary Force 
(JCF) officers blocked Finance Minister Omar Davies from 
leaving the Ministry of Finance and Planning building in an 
attempt to force the Minister to respond within 48 hours to 
the officers, demands for a 47 percent wage increase. 
Davies, who was en route to a Cabinet meeting, was then 
forced into the Heroes, Circle complex (a park across from 
the Ministry of Finance) where he was handed a police 
microphone and addressed the protestors, agreeing to a 
meeting with the Police Federation.  Only then was the 
Minister allowed to leave.  JCF Commissioner Lucius Thomas 
has called an investigation into the officers, actions. 
 
2. (SBU) The Police Federation and the Ministry of Finance 
have been at an impasse for more than a year over JCF,s 
request for a 47 percent wage increase, provisions for better 
working conditions, increased access to training 
opportunities and improved health benefits.  The government 
insists that it cannot offer more than a three per cent hike, 
the maximum under a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding with 
public sector workers.  A meeting between Davies and the 
Police Federation on May 12 did not resolve the matter and at 
midnight on May 17, JCF officers began to call in sick.  RSO 
has confirmed that there is not a wide scale "sick-out" on 
the island; however, if talks continue to break down and 
demands are not met, some officers are adamant that they will 
have no option but to resort to protest. 
 
3. (U) The Prime Minister will meet with trade union leaders 
today to assist in resolving this matter.  Minister of 
National Security Peter Phillips and JCF Commissioner Lucius 
Thomas are also meeting today to seek ways to avoid a full 
scale protest by JCF officers. 
TIGHE