‘Betrayed’

Trouble is brewing between the current and past leadership of the Jamaica Police Federation with its former chairman, Corporal Rohan James, alleging ‘collusion’ between the Federation’s executive and the Police High Command led to him being replaced last month.

In correspondence to rank-and-file members of the Federation, James said he was forced to break his silence in light of “recent developments” which led to Woman Inspector Blanche Codner taking over as chairman last month.

On March 19 it was announced that Codner had been appointed the Federation’s new chairman, replacing James. Corporal Arlene McBean was also replaced as general secretary by Constable Koy Marriott.

In his missive to members, of which The Gleaner saw a copy, James declared that he had never used his power as chairman for personal gain or to compromise the well-being of rank-and-file members.

“This current Central Executive Committee has betrayed and sacrificed yours truly as a result of my uncompromising stance regarding the rank-and-file membership’s well-being,” James said.

“The straw that breaks the camel’s back is the collusion with High Command to have me replaced at the Central Committee even as I am embattled before the court,” he added.

Came under increased pressure

James indicated that he was coming under increased pressure because he filed “contempt proceedings in the Supreme Court on January, 17, 2024, in relation to the failure of the authorised persons to implement orders of the court for an overtime system”.

He said the matter was placed before the court with the knowledge and consent of the full Central Executive Committee. This arose, he said, from the numerous complaints from the general membership and evidence gathered.

“The Central Executive Committee has placed this matter on hold to ensure that they remove me from the committee and in furtherance to withdraw this matter from the court,” James said.

“Colleagues, I take umbrage to my own committee instructing counsel to pause this matter to the detriment of your well-being. I will, no doubt, take all appropriate steps to safeguard the process and file appropriate actions where necessary,” he concluded.

James was interdicted by the Police High Command following comments he made in July 2023 at a funeral of a colleague.

The Federation’s now former chairman had criticised the Police High Command for not paying police personnel sums for their overtime. James has been granted leave by the Supreme Court to go to the Judicial Review Court to challenge the interdiction. In granting leave in November last year, the judge also granted a stay of the interdiction so that James could return to work. However, the Court of Appeal set aside the stay of interdiction granted to James by the Supreme Court.

Efforts to reach McBean or members the new leadership of the Federation for comment were unsuccessful.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com