Against the backdrop of the closure of two police stations and the quarantine of the entire canine unit due to the discovery of several law enforcers testing positive for COVID-19, their bargaining body is expressing deep concern about the treatment being meted out to members.
President of the Barbados Police Association (BPA) Mervin Grace said today that too many complaints are being made to the executive of officers being told to turn up for duty even though they are still awaiting COVID-19 test results.
“That is a complaint I have been hearing for a while. I don’t think it is the policy of the force, but that is what I have been hearing from a lot of members that they are asked to come out before receiving results and I don’t think it is right. But we are waiting to hear from the administration on this issue,” Grace told Barbados TODAY.
The police association leader indicated that officers are experiencing emotional and physical tension as they face the challenges in the current COVID-19 environment.
“I can tell you for a fact that the men are under stress at this point and a lot of issues still have to be worked out as far as the administration is concerned. We are waiting to hear from them. What we will require from them is a clear policy on how we are actually dealing with the officers in relation to the COVID issue,” he insisted.
Grace pointed out that while employees in some businesses may be asked to report for work in person, law enforcers are instructed to do so.
“The difference between us and other workers who are being asked to turn up for duty is that we do not have to be asked, we are instructed…we operate on instructions. This makes our situation of even more concern,” he explained.
Early last month, the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) ordered all police officers on vacation leave to report to their respective stations, formations or units immediately.
The Hastings/Worthing Police Station was closed twice last month for contact tracing and sanitization after several officers there tested positive for COVID-19.
Also late last month, the entire canine unit was placed in quarantine after one officer was diagnosed with the disease. Earlier in the month the Black Rock Police was forced to close to allow for contact tracing to be carried out following a positive case of COVID-19 being discovered.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall recently gave the assurance that Barbados was fully and adequately policed, amid growing concerns about officers being affected by the COVID-19 virus.
He said that Government had authorised the Commissioner of Police to reach out to a number of retired members and invite them to return to the Royal Barbados Police Force and assist with carrying out some of the activities presently performed by trained police officers. (emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb)
