The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

THE Police Staff Association has demanded an apology from Labour Minister Shane Gibson, who they claim implied the force is “politically biased” during his speech in the House of Assembly on Tuesday.

Association chairman Dwayne Rolle said he was “stunned to see how unprofessional a Member of Parliament was in degrading the office” which he holds.

“To have Minister Shane Gibson make an attack on me and this office by saying that having the opposition leader, Dr Hubert Minnis, meet at the office of the Police Staff Association was untoward, when we only seek to improve the welfare of the officers of the force, really upsets me,” he said.

“It was appalling to hear how he tried to say that the office of the Association can be used for political purposes.

“I was a serving police officer long before he even thought of getting into politics and I don’t think my name or the office should be held under such disdain from him.

“He doesn’t know me. I want him to apologise in the House of Assembly for his comments.”

Mr Rolle said police officers were “highly insulted” by Mr Gibson’s attack.

“I received numerous amount of calls from officers regarding his comments,” he said.

Mr Rolle also asked if the reason “we get the type of response from the government in which he serves, is because persons there believe everyone has ulterior motives even though the Association is trying to get help for its members?”

Mr Rolle said although opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis accepted his request to attend his Association’s executive meeting, the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security have yet to respond to similar requests to attend such meetings.

“Letters were sent out to the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of National Security since early February when I took office and sought to meet with them but they have not given us the courtesy of having a meeting with us yet,” he said.

“Both the PLP and the FNM government have neglected to bring any sense of fairness to the members of the force over the years.

“They both think that promoting officers is something that officers are looking for, but in many cases promotion doesn’t bring any kind of financial relief to the officers even though the demand on them is greater.”

Though upset about Mr Gibson’s comments, Mr Rolle said: “I was still very surprised to even know that there is a person in the honourable House who knows the Association of Police exists.”