The Premier said that public safety was a priority even if service reductions had to be made in the Bermuda Police Service because of a refusal by officers to accept a package of cuts.

David Burt added yesterday that negotiations with police officers were still under way and he was confident they would be successful.

Mr Burt said: “With regards to comfort to the community, I am certain that between the discussions that I have had with Government House, and the discussions that I have had with the Minister of National Security, and I will have with the police commissioner, whatever operational changes may or may not be required, we will make sure that the safety of the community is at the forefront.” He was speaking after Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley warned the service faced $4.5 million in cuts and a potential crime wave if talks broke down with the Bermuda Police Association.

The Government has proposed a 10 per cent pay cut across the public sector in the wake of the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Burt said: “There are continued discussions, but from the perspective of where Government is, and we have been very consistent in this position, we must make sure that the baseline which was reached by the Bermuda Trade Union Congress when we engaged in these conversations in late May was for all public sector unions to come along and so we have an issue where some have and some have not.

“We have to make sure that we bargain in good faith with all unions across the board, so we cannot take one position after the fact if we took a collective decision beforehand.

“We will work through this process and I am certain that will come to a place of resolution.”

A source told The Royal Gazette last week that a refusal to suspend cuts to police health insurance coverage by the Government had sparked a rejection of a 10 per cent pay cut.

The news came after another insider said that the Bermuda Police Association had tried to negotiate a 4.5 per cent pay rise owed for three years before it agreed to the proposed pay cuts. The insider highlighted that prison officers had won a Supreme Court battle in January against cuts to their health coverage.

The BPA’s refusal of the deal followed votes by the Fire Services Association and the Prison Officers Association last month to reject the pay cuts.

Mr Burt said: “The court case struck down the tribunal and we were back to negotiations. That is certainly a place of impasse, but what I can say is that the Government has been incredibly reasonable in that position.

“It was something that was laid out and given options so we have been entirely reasonable.”

He added: “The Government offered to increase the salaries by the amount of health insurance which will increase a person’s pensionable salary and which will put persons in a better position. We are going to continue to go through that.”

Mr Burt added; “The backdated pay increases are tied to an overall agreement, so we are going to work through those processes.

“That was a mandate that was laid out for all unions, and for the unions which we have been able to reach agreement with, those pay increases have been given.

He said: “We have been consistent in this regard and leadership requires you to make difficult decisions, and this government has proven that we are not afraid to make difficult decisions.”