Opposition legislators question decision to payout police officers who lost promotions case

Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley and Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn are mystified by Government’s decision to agree to an out of court settlement with several police officers over a promotions dispute.

A total of 14 officers, including newly appointed Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce, who had sued Government after being overlooked for promotions almost a decade ago will be compensated despite losing their case in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

When the matter came up before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) last week, Solicitor General Donna Brathwaite informed the judges that the matter would be settled out of court.

However, a decision was made that the amount of the payout would not be disclosed.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Atherley said he hoped there was other information that he was not privy to which influenced the Government’s decision to pay the officers.

He said as far as he was aware, the police officers’ case had been thrown out by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Atherley said he planned to investigate the matter before speaking on the situation in greater detail.

“This seems like a queer sort of thing and that’s why I want to check it out because it seems very funny. I really want to check it out because I don’t want to make any comments of which I am not sure about the ramifications. I want to talk to a lawyer first about the whole thing before I give any further comment,” he said.

Franklyn, known for his outspoken nature, also signalled his intention to dig deeper into the settlement.

He, too, admitted that he was not fully aware of all the facts in the case.

“I want to make sure I have all the facts. I don’t know what transpired, I don’t understand it and it doesn’t make sense to me. What I am reading doesn’t make sense to me and I like things to make sense because I am hearing that the policemen and women involved sued the Government, lost the case, lost in Court of Appeal and I don’t see any reason why Government would have to turn around and settle with them out of court,” Franklyn contended.

“This sounds very confusing to me. I would understand if the case didn’t go to court and they settled, but you lost, so I have to wait and get the information first.” randybennett@barbadostoday.bb