by Adrian Gibson
First appeared in The Tribune under the byline, Young Mans View here…
I supported the implementation of the 12 hour shift for police officers. Frankly, I still do. When it was launched and I noted a dip in violent crime, I thought it was a commendable move on the part of the Ministry of National Security, the Commissioner of Police and all parties involved. That said, I also understood the complaints of the Police Staff Association (PSA) and felt that the Ministry of National Security could curb their fervent protests by merely offering extra compensation or—if the monies could not be paid—giving them the time off, for example, if an officer works four days on a 12-hour shift each day, give that officer three days off. If the PSA was sincere in its protests, I have no doubt that they would’ve agreed to such an understanding and this, by extension, would have averted claims that the government violated the Employment Act by slavishly overworking officers without compensation, claims of fatigue and, as it finally turned out, the threat of legal action.
Indeed, now that the 12-hour shift rotation has been terminated, I’m quite disappointed that an amicable resolution could not be arrived at. Even more, the question most people want answered is whether the purpose of the 12-hour shifts was merely to demonstrate that there could be a dramatic reduction in crime, particularly since the timing seemed contemporaneous with a spike in violent crime.
Police officers have told me that they are no longer on the 12-hour shift rotation. So, why was it stopped? Could an agreeable understanding be arrived at? Was the threat of legal action the basis for the shift from the newly adopted 12-hour shift policy to the usual 8-hour shift? Was it theatre for the public’s consumption or was it a detailed plan? If this is the case, why were the shifts started in the first place without paying attention to the details—e.g. compensation, police welfare, etc?
With the Christmas season fast approaching, this is the time for police officers to be on the 12-hour shift rotation, as police data would show that crime historically increases around this time of year. Frankly, the authorities that be and the PSA must come to an harmonious understanding—in the interest of the Bahamian people—relative to the 12-hour shift being reinstituted during the Yuletide season.
Since the general public and the media have yet to be officially and forthrightly informed by the Minister as to cessation or continuation of the 12-hour shift—though rank and file police officers are telling us all and spreading the news like wild fire— one wonders about the reason for the secrecy (the officers have not kept the secret). I think that generally, the Ministry of National Security has been working overtime in seeking to implement new approaches to crime and, when one considers the recent operations and 12 hour shift scheme, has offered a more idea-oriented, better approach to crime than when the Ministry was headed by former minister Tommy Turnquest.
Unfortunately though, this country is not one of transparency at this time and so the answers relative to the whispered withdrawal of police officers from the 12-hour shift are not likely to be forthcoming.
