Prison officers still await overtime pay

Prison officers are demanding immediate payment of thousands of dollars in unpaid overtime for extended duties during the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing the authorities of neglecting their sacrifices despite repeated appeals.

But Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams said on Wednesday that he is aware of the issue and expects a resolution soon.

“I am aware of the situation. I can confirm that the calculations and reconciliations were completed and submitted by the Superintendent of Prisons to the Ministry of the Public Service. We expect to have this matter resolved to the satisfaction of all parties in the near future,” Abrahams told Barbados TODAY.

Some prison warders, speaking to Barbados TODAY through veteran unionist Hartley Reid, expressed frustration that their calls for a settlement have seemingly been ignored since life returned to normal.

“It is with regret that I have learnt that the sacrifices and duties performed by members of the Prison Officers Association, which make up the majority of the members of the Barbados Prison Service, have gone unrecognised. They were asked to work during COVID from January 1, 2021, until well into 2023/2024. During this time, prison officers’ duties were extended from their normal eight hours to an additional four hours to ensure security during that stressful pandemic. To this day, it has been brought to my attention that they have not been paid,” said Reid, a former representative of the protective services during his tenure as president of the Police Association of Barbados and first vice-president of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB).

Reid, who remains a trustee of CTUSAB, clarified that he was not speaking on behalf of that organisation but as a concerned unionist informed by prison officers.

He noted that despite “all kinds of meetings” held on the matter, no progress has been made.

“Prison officers are owed thousands of dollars, having given the ultimate sacrifice by leaving their families and friends. A number of them were actually quarantined in the prison during that stressful period.

“Now that things have returned to some normalcy, prison officers have not been given their due respect by paying them their money—a sum that cannot truly compensate for the sacrifices they made,” he argued.

Reid added that while monetary compensation cannot fully repay their efforts, it would demonstrate governmental appreciation for those “valiant men and women on the frontline of the COVID pandemic”.

The unionist also recalled an outbreak of COVID-19 within the penal institution during which officers’ duties were further extended due to staff shortages. He noted that wardens could neither leave nor allow others into the prison because of quarantine measures.

“That was done,” Reid contended, “with the understanding that they would be paid because their tour of duty is eight hours. It is nothing short of scandalous that four years down the road, prison officers have not been justly rewarded with their pay.”

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb