HR matters in armed forces need further attention

While welcoming changes to the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021 related to the retirement age of senior officers within the Barbados Defence Force, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) Toni Moore believes there are other human resource management-related elements of the armed forces that must be addressed.
Speaking during debate in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, the Member of Parliament for St George North contended: “If we are to find and retain the best of the best, more than retirement age must be addressed. It is time, perhaps, for us to move towards a more comprehensive reform – one that gives attention to the human resources prerequisites of effective recruitment and training which ensures that, once recruited, when demand arises for them to step up to the plate they can do so admirably, that there are opportunities provided and also the ever important issue of compensation.”
She expressed concern about the number of acting senior members of staff within the Royal Barbados Police Force, which she observed recently when attending the closing ceremony of a workshop held for officers.
“At that event, practically each senior officer among the 20 people being presented with certificates of participation was acting. For example, Acting Inspector, Acting Superintendent, Acting Assistant Commissioner; acting, acting, acting, and it makes us wonder what we are really doing, not only to attract the best but to retain them and expect that we will get the best out of them,” Moore said.
Touching on the issue of remuneration, the trade union leader commended members of the police force and the armed forces for their work “in spite of the fact that they are paid at low levels or levels that are less desirable than one might expect from individuals who have to fulfill the levels of responsibility that they do and who are exposed to so many different elements in their day to day duties”.
“We must endeavour at all times to guard against demoralization and to give our country the opportunity to benefit from the best of the best. It is not only pay that leads to demoralization, but we must also ensure that our outstanding servicemen at all levels can be confirmed in their posts,” she said.
Moore noted that this issue was not unique to Barbados.
“There are other forces around the world where we see officials trying to pump up falling numbers by looking at not only retirement age, but also re-looking the application process to see how they can possibly waive some of the stipulations that will make that process easier so it is more attractive to potential recruits,” she said.
In conclusion, Moore expressed support for the amendments, but urged that, “in a very short time, we move towards looking at a system that will more readily and effectively address the requirements for planning, recruitment, retention, succession and opportunity so that we can support progression”. (DH)