PHILIPSBURG--Interim Minister of Justice Richard Gibson extended an invitation to police unions NAPB and ABVO on Wednesday to discuss core issues relating to their members.
The unions said in a recent statement, “We will continue to seek for what is due to our men and women in blue of this country, who serve and protect this country. These benefits are long overdue. We believe that Government has to step up to the plate and has to come with some kind of understanding to the matters for officers.”
Gibson would like to know the specifics, because the unions are being vague about what specifically they would like to have done. Gibson informed the unions during a previous meeting that not much could be done at this time due to budgetary constraints. He has taken note of the statements made about him in the media and would prefer to work on resolving their issues.
The unions said they still were awaiting the appointment of the new Minister of Justice.
“Up to now we have received no word. We have been going from door to door knocking for the issues that we have been fighting for (functie huis, plaatsing plan Landverordeing) to be in place. These things should have been in place since 2010 and we are now in 2016.
“It is very frustrating to us. Our men and women in blue, Immigration and police personnel deserve better. Everyone is taking us for a ride, but God is holding us strong. We are not giving up,” the unions said.
“I am befuddled by the statements made by the unions,” Gibson said during the live Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday. “I tried reaching out to them, but no response. I received a package about the grievances in December, but most of them had a negative advice. That is when I gave up.
“If there is a grievance that they have, like the function book as an example, from 10-10-10, this would not be the best moment to finalise this, because this will bust the budget and result in problems with the Committee for Financial Supervision and other institutions. There is just no money right now, but my door is open for dialogue.”
