KINGSTON, Jamaica — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang, has expressed that the welfare of police personnel is critical to delivering excellent service to citizens.

Speaking at the opening session of the three-day Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations’ (CFPWA) 10th Annual General Meeting at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny, Chang said whether in Jamaica or in any other jurisdiction, the police’s welfare plays a key role in the kind of service the lawmen give and says the Government is committed to investing in their care.

“We recognize the urgent need of all the members of the police force and have signalled our intention to work assiduously to make sure that you are not only comfortable in the workspaces but also remunerated in a way that shows our gratitude for the immense work you do in securing lives and property while putting yours on the line,” Chang said.

In a release, the Minister stated that through strategic planning, the Government has invested heavily in the physical infrastructure of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to make sure that its officers work in a clean, modern, uplifting and professional space.

He added that millions of dollars have been spent on overhauling and upgrading the telecommunications infrastructure of the force, “as the men and women who lead the charge against the vicious cycle of violence must be taken care of while they protect and reassure”.

The Minister said defeating the enemies of peace, security and good public order rest heavily in the hands of the police force, “who face danger at the granular level daily.”

Chang also used the occasion to thank the Jamaica Police Federation for the effort in showing care for its members over the past two years especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The police forces in the respective member nations have played a vital role in the execution of their duties during the many lockdowns, and curfews which were made necessary at the height of the spread of the coronavirus. The value of your work can never be quantified,” he said.