Police demand urgent action over pay disparities, acting roles

The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has publicly raised alarm over what it described as longstanding pay inequities, delayed compensation and administrative failures affecting officers within the force.

In a strongly worded press release issued this week, the Association said officers have endured years of “unfair treatment” that has negatively impacted morale, confidence in public administration and equality within the force.

Among the issues highlighted were claims that some serving police constables are earning significantly less than newly recruited officers while performing the same duties and responsibilities.

The PWA also complained that some officers have reportedly been acting in higher ranks for more than two years without formal appointments or the additional pay attached to those positions.

According to the Association, long-serving Inspectors are also earning less than newly promoted Inspectors, a situation it described as “irrational and deeply disrespectful” to experienced officers.

“These are not isolated administrative oversights,” the Association stated. “They represent systemic failures that have persisted for years, and raise serious concerns regarding fairness, accountability, good governance, and equal treatment within the public service.”

The PWA warned that the continued delay in addressing salary disparities and regularising acting appointments would no longer be tolerated.

“Police officers have faithfully served this territory, often under difficult and demanding circumstances,” the statement said. “They deserve fairness, dignity, transparency, and compensation that reflects their responsibilities and service.”

As part of its demands, the Association is calling for the immediate establishment of a multi-agency task force comprising representatives from the Deputy Governor’s Office, Human Resources, the Ministry of Finance, the RVIPF and the PWA.

The proposed task force, the Association said, should urgently review and resolve all outstanding salary, promotion and acting appointment issues within clearly defined timelines.

The PWA maintained that it remains committed to dialogue and constructive engagement but warned that officers could no longer be expected to shoulder the burden of what it termed “persistent systemic administrative failures” while continuing to perform their duties professionally.

Up to publication time, no arm of government, including the Deputy Governor’s Office, the Ministry of Finance or the RVIPF administration, had publicly responded to the Association’s concerns.