PHILIPSBURG--The NAPB and ABVO police unions are up in arms over the postponement of a meeting with acting Justice Minister Richard Gibson on Tuesday, to address a number of pressing issues affecting its membership.
The meeting has been rescheduled for next Monday, December 7. The unions are hoping that this meeting proceeds as it is frustrated with what it sees as the inaction of authorities over the past five years to address the concerns of members of the force.
NAPB representatives told The Daily Herald that Tuesday’s meeting was scheduled for 2:00pm. NAPB received a call from the minister’s cabinet during the morning hours indicating that the meeting might possibly be postponed because the minister might have to attend a function at the Police Station at the same time. A confirmation was to be given.
The union said when it never received a confirmation that the meeting would be postponed and after receiving a call from its sister union ABVO, it went ahead and showed up at the minister’s office on Tuesday, only to be told by a staff member that the meeting was definitively postponed.
While at the minister’s office, union president Jeanine Peterson received an email via her mobile device, about the postponement. The NAPB union said it was disappointed in the manner in which things transpired with the calling-off of the meeting, and the NAPB feels as though a “game” is being played with the unions.
NAPB said the frustrations of its members are growing as they want answers and the union is unable to give answers as it is not getting any information from government. The union believes that parties need to communicate better with each other.
On November 24, NAPB and ABVO gave authorities 72 hours to come with solutions for issues affecting the police force and immigration, including fixing their insurance and pension, as well as ensuring that officers receive their “function book” and salary scales, amongst other things.
The union had said at the time that “other methods” will be taken if the ultimatum was not met; however, Gibson had been off-island during the week and only returned over the weekend. The unions decided to give the minister a hearing first and were upset that yesterday’s meeting could not take place.
The unions will await the outcome of Monday’s meeting before deciding its next course of action.
