MORE than 1,000 fire officers are expected to receive their arrears of salaries at the end of this month, according to the general secretary of the Fire Service Association's Second Division, Sharon Nicholson-Charles.

Auditors from the Ministry of Finance, she said, are working to have pay sheets ready by the end of July.

This includes arrears for salaries for the period January 1, 2005-December 31, 2007 and arrears of increments for the period 2006-2007.

According to the vice-president of the association, Michael Spencer, payments were supposed to have been made in May.

The officers are being owed $7,000-$9,000 each in increments.

Nicholson-Charles also said the association had not yet received word from the Public Service Commission concerning the filling of vacant positions within the Fire Service.

She said at present, there are around 300 vacancies in the service.

Fourteen officers are acting as assistant divisional fire officers, 72 officers are acting as fire station officers, 117 are acting as fire sub-station officers and 135 fire-fighters are acting as fire sub-officers.

Nicholson-Charles said the commission should rectify this by ensuring that the officers acting in the positions are confirmed.