The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

RETIRED Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Thompson yesterday criticised the Police Staff Association for displaying a “gross disrespect for authority” by publicly voicing its displeasure over the government not including the group in initial discussions surrounding the implementation of National Health Insurance.

Mr Thompson blamed the PSA for being too “confrontational” and “aggressive” in voicing their concerns on the matter. He said the statements by members of the association were “very insulting” towards Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and the two ministers of national security, Dr Bernard Nottage and state minister Keith Bell.

Mr Thompson also took exception to the PSA trying to “behave like they are politicians or union leaders,” but not doing anything to “restore the discipline we once had in the (Royal Bahamas Police Force).”

“I’m not seeing anything from them asking officers or telling officers how to dress, how to be neat and clean, how to behave with the public, how to answer the telephone, and these are all things that they should be supporting the commissioner with,” Mr Thompson said when contacted for comment.

“The staff association, particularly leadership, to me is too confrontational and they show gross disrespect for authority. I’m not saying that you cannot fight for better working conditions, and they have done very well. Under previous leadership, when they started they got an office, they still have an office. They have staff. And they got certain conditions changed, better working conditions. It has become better.

“They now have insurance, they have group insurance, which we never had until the association came. But I think now they have become aggressive, confrontational, and they’re showing disrespect for the commissioner and his officers and the ministers.”

Last month, the PSA criticised the government for not including it in initial discussions surrounding the implementation of NHI and how their health plans would be affected, adding that the various associations representing law enforcement officers in the country felt “insulted” and “disrespected” by a lack of consultation.

PSA Chairman Dwight Smith said there appears to be a “disconnect” between the government over health insurance for police officers. He said while the security forces in the country welcome the government’s proposed NHI scheme, law enforcement officers felt slighted that they were not “brought around the table to actually discuss where we should go and where we want to go.”

However, Mr Thompson said yesterday: “That’s nonsense. Included to do what?

“What about all of us who supposed to get National Health Insurance? We weren’t represented. The Parliament is made up of people who represent us. We don’t have to be there. My point of view is that if the Parliament decides on NHI, we hear the debates, we know what’s going on. We don’t have to be there to make any personal representation. To me that’s a no-no. You listen and you wait to see what is happening. When it happens if you feel you are unfairly affected by it then you make your representation.”

He added: “The whole problem with these guys, particularly the leadership they have now, is they behave like they’re politicians or union leaders, and that shouldn’t be. You have to treat the people with respect, your commissioner and his executives with respect, the ministers with respect. You don’t go about making disparaging remarks about them. That I don’t like.”

Last month, Commissioner Greenslade said he would not respond to the “rude behaviour” and “disrespect” displayed by officers from the PSA.

Mr Greenslade further suggested that the PSA had gone about voicing its concerns the wrong way.

Ultimately, however, Mr Greenslade told reporters that he had no fears of reduced benefits for officers as some speculate will happen when NHI comes on stream in 2016. When asked if he believed the current health benefits for police officers were sufficient, Mr Greenslade said it took many years to have those benefits get to a level that is acceptable.

“We are treated extremely well,” he said. “If you look at all of the benefits we enjoy we have made tremendous progress. If you had asked that question of me in 2007 or 2008 my answer might have been different, but based on the benefits that came with the new Police Force Act in 2009 we have very little to complain about, we should be grateful.”