~~adz:Left~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts (February 06, 2007) - The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis approved more benefits for officers of the Security Forces for 2007 further demonstrating its commitment to reduce crime and meet the needs of security personnel. The approved benefits follow the increased allocation of $1.09 million made to the budget of the Ministry of National Security for the current year.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security, Immigration and Labour Mrs. Astona Browne says that effective January 2007; officers of the Police Force will experience a generous increase in allowances. "Government has delivered on its commitment to enhance the remuneration package of the security forces and remains committed to improving the security infrastructure throughout the Federation," Mrs. Browne stated.
In mid 2006 a Cabinet appointed committee was mandated to review the allowance package paid to the Police Force while considering some of the proposals of the Police Welfare Association (PWA). The Committee which was chaired by the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr. Calvin Edwards, submitted its report in November and during his Budget address in December, Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas announced that a number of the requests have been considered favourably by the Cabinet-appointed Committee.
Acting on the instructions of the Cabinet, the Ministry has introduced a wide range of allowances for the officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force - 60% of which are new, while selected existing benefits have been upgraded. The new allowances include a Proficiency Allowance, a Plain Clothes Allowance, an Instructors' ~~adz:Right~~
Allowance, a Displacement Allowance as well as an Allowance for Officers in the Canine Unit. There was a 33% increase in the Detective and Refreshment Allowances and a 50 % increase in the Responsibility Allowance. The Proficiency Allowance is designed as an extrinsic reward for officers who are successful in the intermediate and advance level examinations, while awaiting confirmation in a given rank.
As far as the new and improved Displacement Allowance is concerned, senior or middle management officers, in good standing, can receive up to $$50.00 monthly while the rank and file will be paid an additional $250.00 when relocated to or from Nevis. The Transfer Allowance was also upgraded substantially (some 525%) as a one off payment to the officers.
Permanent Secretary Browne confirmed that the full details of the package were communicated to top members of the Executive of the PWA by the Hon. Prime Minister in December of last year and also by the Minister of National Security Hon. Dwyer Astaphan, when he addressed the rank and file of the Police Force at the beginning of the New Year.
~~adz:Left~~ According to Commissioner of Police Robert Jeffers, "officials of the Police Force are now making the necessary preparations to operationalise the payment of the allowances and the complete list and details of the approved benefits have once again been communicated to the Executive of the Police Welfare Association."
According to Mrs. Browne, "the benefits represent the first phase of a commitment by Government to undertake a comprehensive review of a compensation package for the Security Forces. Consideration of a salary review for the ranks will be done as part of a comprehensive Civil Service salary review exercise."
Browne confirmed that all arrangements have been made for payments to be made retroactively to reflect the effective date. This would include the Risk Allowance for the officers of the Defence Force that is presently paid to all of the other the security agencies.
