Former police chief hailed for focus on welfare of members
JUST three months shy of it sixth anniversary, the welfare division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has raised and handed over more than $400 million to almost 1,200 members who were injured on the job.
This achievement has prompted head of the division, Deputy Superintendent Raymond Wilson to hail former Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson as the mastermind behind such an important programme.
Anderson, who demitted office on Monday, took over leadership of the constabulary in March 2018 — with more than 12,000 members under his command — and has been credited for consistently giving prominence to matters of welfare.
His successor, Dr Kevin Blake, a career policeman with more than 20 years’ service in the JCF, officially took over the helm of the organisation on Monday and is being depended on to foster growth and continuity of the work carried out by the welfare division.
“Prior to 2018 there was no specific welfare office to deal with matters concerning members. It was one of the first things put in place by Commissioner Anderson when he first joined the JCF in 2018. I had just left the Police Federation and was in Portland when I was directed by him to be head of a unit and to build it out in a way that it would actually serve its purpose.
“We believe that we have achieved that and are now in the process of building outward so that we can have greater and more direct impact where our members across the island are concerned,” Wilson told the Jamaica Observer on Monday.
Wilson said that before Anderson authorised the creation of the division, members who received injuries had to wait lengthy periods — even up to 10 years — before receiving any form of benefit from the Government.
“The JCF is a government entity but, as you know, we do not always control the funds that could be readily available for these things. The welfare office has been doing significantly well. Since 2018 we have been able to assist about 1,168 members who were injured in the line of duty. Our purpose is to carry out the management functions and responsibilities when a member suffers any illness or injury in the line of duty.
“There are times when we have to jump in other situations that are not duty related. We have done quite a bit. We have been able to fast-track many of the outstanding payments, especially those due to the dependents of officers. There were times when we suffered from a situation of having to wait, sometimes up to 10 years, for these benefits to be paid. I am saying all these things to say that this is an experience that has only made us stronger and has put our mind in a frame as to what extent we can grow so that we can be there, and reach out, and be of some assistance to persons.”
Head of the JCF’S Corporate Communications Unit, Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay on Tuesday described the work of the division as very useful and said the new commissioner will add to Anderson’s legacy.
“It is important that the welfare of members is at a position where decisions are taken very quickly. When cases are relayed to him [Anderson], it cuts out the bureaucracy. Cases would be laid on his desk and he gives the necessary approvals or recommendations, and directives are given to treat with particular matters.
“It has really served its purpose. It has met and exceeded its objectives in many instances and continues to be one of the entities where, if a member gets injured on duty, their concern should be getting the medical care — and not where the funds is going to come from to pay for it, after being injured trying to protect lives. The new commissioner will be able to give his directives to the welfare department to treat with these matters,” Lindsay said.