The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will be receiving a 4% pay rise.

Hon. Marco Archer, Minister for Finance and Economic Development, confirmed this by email on Monday (30) in response to a question querying whether Cabinet had approved the increase.

Minister Archer said:

“The Cabinet has agreed to give a 4% COLA commencing July 2015. This relates in part to the 3.2% COLA that was taken away from the civil service a few years ago.

“The calculated figure since the last COLA in 2007/8 is significantly higher but 4% (approx. $5.5 million) is all that is affordable at the moment.

“No new taxes are required to fund this because of the surplus and we have reduced expenditure by more than CI$24 million.”

Last Wednesday (25) Police Commissioner David Baines kicked off a recruitment drive for Caymanian police officers.

“We are looking for people who have a commitment to serve their community,” the Commissioner said, “to help in making the communities in the islands as safe as possible. The difference in this application is that it is specifically geared to Caymanians and permanent residents with the right to work.”

Caymanians between the ages of 18 and 40 who are physically fit are being invited to apply for posts as police officers.

The starting salary is $31,272 per year, increasing to $42,096, depending on applicants’ skill sets, which may enable them to start at a higher level. A 12 percent pension contribution and medical coverage are included in the package.

The salaries quoted are now and do not include the July increase.

Baines has acknowledged there are Caymanians whose salaries are lower than non-Caymanians and is taking steps to address this.