The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis pledged yesterday to examine a long-running dispute over police gratuities and speak with the judiciary about speeding up any pending court cases, after MPs said retired officers have spent up to two decades fighting for payments they claim they are owed.

The issue resurfaced during the House of Assembly’s budget debate when MICAL MP James Ferguson, a retired police officer, asked whether the government had made provisions to address gratuity claims that have remained unresolved for 15 to 20 years.

Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said he would have to get an update on the matter. He said the issue appeared to involve police officers who served but did not reach the rank of inspector or another gazetted post, and whether they were entitled to gratuity.

National Security Minister Myles Laroda said he believed the issue was before the courts and noted reported cases in which some officers received gratuity while others did not.

Mr Laroda said that in “another life” he had made representations for a group of police officers. He said the dispute dates back to the tenure of former National Security Minister BJ Nottage.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard said several former Cabinet ministers had represented affected officers and argued that the head of the judiciary could help bring related court matters forward on the calendar.

He noted that many affected officers have died.

Mr Davis said the issue had not previously been brought to his attention. He suggested that if the matter is before the courts, there may be a genuine dispute requiring a judicial ruling.

He said if particulars are provided to him, he would review the matter and seek representation to the head of the judiciary to determine how quickly it could be resolved.

Mr Laroda later disclosed that he is scheduled to meet with the Police Staff Association.

In 2023, Mr Pintard renewed calls for the government to compensate hundreds of retired police officers who said they had been wrongfully denied millions in gratuity.

At the time, he said about 450 retired officers were still waiting to receive overdue payments after pursuing them for more than a decade.

Several retired officers also spoke publicly about the dispute.

Then National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bowe-Darville had dismissed litigation brought by officers on procedural grounds.

Mr Munroe said the Office of the Attorney General had already issued an opinion on the matter and advised lawyers for the retired officers to properly pursue the case through the courts, adding that the government would abide by the court’s ruling.