No early retirment benefit for policeman
Dear Claudienne,
I am a retired member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. I enlisted on Monday October 26, 1981 and applied for the early retirement programme. I retired at the age of 58 on the November 26, 2015, having served 34 years and one month. I retired at the rank of detective corporal.
Under the early retirement scheme, I would be entitled to two years’ pay, which would take me to my 60th birthday. I have been waiting for this payment since I retired but have heard nothing from the Ministry of Finance up to this point.
I know of people who retired under the early retirement programme and received the payments due to them.
However, all of the police who retired under the early retirement programme have not been paid the monies due to them and I need to know why.
Cabinet approved the programme in 2005. The then minister of national security, Peter Philips, announced the programme on April 20, 2005. He stated that: “Under the programme, members (officers and sub officers) can receive up to two years’ salary and allowances, without losing any entitlements for pension benefits if they take early retirement.”
When I retired in 2015 under the programme I received certain benefits but did not get the promised two years’ salary incentive. Instead, they wanted to force me to forfeit my rights to the sum of money due to me.
What is most hurtful is that I know of some officers who have received the payment. I read a couple of articles in which it was stated that the Early Retirement Programme for members of the JCF was placed on hold and that they wanted to clear the backlog.
In 2017 there were news reports that the Cabinet had approved the payment of an additional $310 million in the 20172018 financial year to 54 EX-JCF members, under the Early Retirement Incentive Scheme. At that time, Cabinet said it will only cover one year’s salary.
I have been waiting patiently for over four years now for the payment and I have heard nothing. I do not understand how they can make these payments to new retirees when they have not fulfilled their duty from 2015. Furthermore, I do not understand how they can arbitrarily reduce the number of years of incentive from the original two years to one year without informing the members of the Force.
I need the money to cover my medical bills. Thirty-four years in the force should mean something and Government should not renege on promises that they have made. I served in the parishes of Trelawny and St James.
I need clarification on this matter and would appreciate your help. SD
Dear SD
Tell Claudienne has been advised by the director of corporate services For the police at the Ministry of National Security that the Early Retirement Scheme for the Jamaica Constabulary Force is not an entitlement.
The spokesman said that the scheme was instituted to give the commissioner of police an instrument to use in cases where it became necessary to separate police from the force in the national interest.
She said that there was a time when any police who applied for early retirement under the Early Retirement Scheme would be approved.
However, in 2014, changes were made to the scheme.
“In early 2014 when it was realised by the police that the cost of the early retirement scheme was out of control, the notion that anybody who applied would get it ceased,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that your file shows that your application for early retirement on August 25, 2014, was acknowledged by the Jamaica Constabulary Force Administration Branch in a letter to you dated October 28, 2014. In the letter you were told that the permanent secretary of the Ministry of National Security would approve no application for early retirement under the incentive due to lack of funds.
“In this regard you are to indicate whether you are desirous of proceeding in the traditional early retirement under section 56 (1)(A)(1) of the Constabulary Force Act or opt to continue your service in the Jamaica Constabulary Force.” the letter stated.
The spokesman said that you were asked to respond by November 1, 2014, the date on which the Early Retirement Scheme programme ended.
In your letter to Tell Claudienne you made reference to the Cabinet’s approval of the payment of an additional $310 million in the 2017-18 financial year to 54 EX-JCF members, under the Early Retirement Incentive Scheme.
National Security Ministry spokesman said that there were a number of police who applied for early retirement and had received correspondence stating that their applications had been approved. When it was realised that there was insufficient funds to pay the 54 EX-JCF members the application was made for the $310 million to pay them, the spokesman explained.
You were not one of the individuals who were advised that your application for early retirement had been approved, she said.
The letter you received on October 28, 2014 pointed out that there were insufficient funds to pay you under the early retirement scheme and gave you the option of continuing your service in the force until you reached the retirement age of 60. Nonetheless, you decided to retire from the police force at age 58. We wish you all the best.
NIS PENSION
Dear Claudienne,
At the end of July 2017 I applied to the NIS for my pension benefit.
I submitted all the required documents and was told that I would hear from them within four months.
My daughter has been checking on it for me but when she calls the NIS office the phone is not answered.
Could you please through your good office see if you can find out what has happened to my claim for a pension benefit. UG Dear UG
When Tell Claudienne contacted the NIS checks showed that your claim was still in the records office.
Your claim for a benefit has now been processed and you have been in receipt of your NIS pension since September 2018. We also note that a lump sum of $352,310.13 for the period July 24, 2016 to September 30, 2018 was lodged to your bank account in September 2018.
We wish you all the best. Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 876-936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver. com. Please include a contact phone number.