Georgetown: Opposition Leader David Granger says that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) plans to challenge the confirmation of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud owing to the lack of consultation by President Donald Ramotar as directed by the Constitution.
According to him, at no time were the constitutional requirements followed by the President, that is, to consult with the Opposition Leader first before having the confirmation done and as such, it was in clear breach of the law.
“I did not have consultation with the President within the meaning of meaningful consultation under Article 211. I see he went off and purported to swear in the Acting Commissioner in the capacity of substantive commissioner. I don’t know how that could be done in defiance of Article 211 of the Constitution,” he said.
The Opposition Leader further went on to state that as far as that party was concerned, Persaud’s confirmation as the Commissioner of Police was null and void and would not be given any recognition. After acting for almost a year, Persaud was confirmed as the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force and was sworn in before President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday.
He took the Oath of Office at the Office of the President in the presence of his family, Government officials and senior ranks of the Police Force along with the heads of the Disciplined Forces.
Article 211 of the Constitution states that the Commissioner of Police and every Deputy Commissioner of Police shall be appointed by the President acting after meaningful consultations with the Leader of the Opposition and Chairperson of the Police Service Commission after the Chairperson has consulted with the other members of the Commission.
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