THE FINANCE Ministry yesterday rejected a plea from members of the police force that they be exempted from the public sector wage freeze, a development that has left the police disgruntled.

Yesterday, the leadership of the Police Officers' Association, the Jamaica Police Federation, the Island Special Constabulary Force Association and the District Constables Association met with officials of the finance ministry to press their case.

The police groups are insisting that the seven per cent wage increase their members were expecting effective April 1, be paid starting this month.

clarification sought

The groups also sought clarification on one of the allowances paid to police that will now be taxed.

At the end of the meeting, stone-faced members of the police groups marched out of the finance ministry, obviously disappointed at the outcome, even though they had good news on the issue of the allowances.

"The issue of the taxing of our allowances is no longer an issue. We have been given a letter that indicates that the Government does not intend to apply tax and we are very happy for that," Sergeant Raymond Wilson, chairman of the police federation, told members of the media.

But Wilson said there was no such good news on the wage increase.

"We don't believe the issue of the seven per cent increase in our salary has been dealt with and just as we speak, we will be going to our offices to have a meeting and to discuss the way forward," Wilson said.

considering protest

He refused to say what options were being considered by the rank-and-file members of the force but left little doubt that some protest action was being considered.

"All I'm saying is that our members are anxiously awaiting a positive response. We don't believe the issue of our seven per cent was adequately dealt with," Wilson said.

It was a similar story from the officers' association, which also declined to say what action the men and women above the rank of inspector would take in the wake of what it described as a decision by the Government to scrap the seven per cent increase.

further meetings

"The executive will meet and I think subsequent to that will meet with wider membership to determine our next course of action," said Superintendent Michael James, chairman of the Police Officers' Association.

"I don't know that whatever course of action that we intend to take is going to be a course of action that we will necessarily telegraph to the country," James said.

Under the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act, members of the police force and other persons in areas considered essential services are prevented from going on strike or taking any other industrial action to back their demands.