PHILIPSBURG:--- On July 22, 2016, a group of Police officers received their decrees by the Minister of Justice Edson Kirindngo during a ceremony held at the Police Head Quarters in Philipsburg. When the officers took a look at their long-awaited promotions it was just for them to get more disappointed. The officers were taking into service since early in the year 2012. During which period they were selected to follow the Basic Police Training (BPO). However, the cadets were placed in the daily operation of police work instead on sitting on the benches as mention in their former decree that stipulated that they were police cadets in training.
The cadets had never gotten the proper training to fulfill their duties as full-fledged police officers because management team (KPSM) claimed that there was no money in the budget for the basic police training (BPO). Moreover, the cadets were consistent in asking about the training (BPO) and they were always promised on a certain date that the training was going to start but never did. However, they worked as full-fledged police officers for nearly 5 years to receive a promotion with a retroactively with compensation for only 1 year. the 12 cadets that received their decrees was very disappointed with this and decided to seek assistance by their colleague Police Inspector Lyndon Lewis Jr. that chose to be their legal representative in court.
Inspector Lyndon Lewis Jr. is known for his reputation as one who will defend his people once it's for a good cause. He drafted up appeal petitions they were accepted by the court. The hearing was held on the Monday 21, 2016 at 2 pm. During a 2.5 hour hearing with a 10 min recess, Lewis pleaded his client's case that they should be compensated for their service to the Country as a full fledged Police officer from February 1, 2012. The government pleaded their case that the officers never worked as full fledged Police officers. The court will hand down her decision on January 23, 2017.
12 Police officers represented by Police Inspector Lyndon Lewis Jr. in the Court of first instance.
