CARIBBEAN LEADERS and their technocrats need to pay serious attention to the issue of law enforcement in the region.

This warning comes from Barbados' Police Commissioner Darwin Dottin who said ordinary terms of conditions and service would eventually impact on police forces in the region.

"It is a matter that policymakers in the Caribbean have to look at. Policymakers in the Caribbean have to address the issues, terms and conditions for law enforcement officers.

"Right around the region there are complaints," Dottin said.

Perplexing

The police chief, who is also vice-president of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), described as "perplexing" a developing trend in the region where retired police officers from developed countries, are being offered lucrative packages to take up senior posts in some Caribbean countries.

In some cases, these officers earn four times more than the top law enforcement officer in the respective territory.

Noting he was not attempting to question the rights of these countries, Dottin said:

"I believe policymakers have to make determination whether this is the way to address policing problems in the region, or whether it is better to address the issue of capacity building in law enforcement agencies."

Jamaica and Trinidad have drafted retired British officers into their forces, while Guyana has indicated its intention to seek the services of a retired senior New York officer.

In the August edition of the British police magazine: Police Review, St Lucia has advertised for retired officers from Britian to fill a number of senior positions on the island ranging from assistant commissioner to superintendent.

The salary packages extend to over $169 200 yearly, far exceeding the salary of the commissioner of police.

Dottin also stated for example, the absence of a police academy in the region which would facilitate sustained training, especially among senior officers.

"We are perhaps one of the only regions in the world without this type of facility," he said.

Targeting region

The police chief said Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, two British dependencies who traditonally recruited heavily from Britain, were now faced with having to target the region to fill vacancies.

"Many of their senior officers would have come from Britain, but what is happening now is that the British officers are not staying.

"What I've been told is that these British officers are now accepting positions in Canada, Australia and New Zealand where the pay and benefits are even better. They're even given the right of citizenship for themselves and their families in those countries," Dottin said.

He also said these matters were expected to be raised at the next ACCP meeting.