Government claims victory in police sickout action

Port-of-Spain: National Security Minister John Sandy and the government have praised police officers for not heeding a call to stay away from work over the five percent wage offer made to them by the government.

The government today issued a statement saying the strike action got very little response.

According to the statement the response by police officers to report for duty "bolstered the image of the dedicated members of the police service" and demonstrated loyalty to the country and citizenry.

The statement says that the police officers have earned the genuine gratitude of the people of Trinidad and Tobago for not abandoning their duties.

The government said that it implemented several contingency measures in preparation for the strike action by the police, including putting soldiers on the streets of the capital city.

However the minister said two divisions, Northern and Western, showed a lower rate of absenteeism, with just 43% and 30% of officers reporting for work.

Three stations in Tobago exhibited a higher level of absenteeism.

Overall the government claims there was a 77 to 100 percent turnout in the other 13 divisions and units.