Police extortionists embarrass country and further tarnish police reputation- Immigration Official

Georgetown– A senior immigration officer stationed at the Guyana Suriname border at Moleson Creek strongly believes that a thorough investigation needs to be carried out in the police force to seek out rogue officers and dismiss them from the job. Their continued presence in the force, he said, will only infect other law abiding officers. The latest infraction by 3 officers is extorting some US$1500 from a Surinamese national who came to Guyana on legitimate business. Reports are that the Surinamese was in a car heading to the city when it was intercepted at a roadblock at Albion. The officers unearthed some US$50,000 on the Surinamese. He along with his driver was taken into custody for questioning about the money. Reports are that the man was in Guyana to conduct business with a local Cambio in the city. The officers threatened to lock him up unless he gave them US$1500. The Surinamese then made a call and within minutes the officers were instructed to let him go with all his money. However the ranks held onto the money they extorted from the man. Senior police officers have intervened in the matter and the ranks are expected to pass through an ID parade today so that the Surinamese can identify the men who took his money. The senior immigration officer said that this will surely be a blemish on the Guyana Suriname relations and an embarrassment to Guyana and the police force. Recently the police commissioner said that a large number of ranks are before the courts currently for various offences including bribery. Police ranks continue to take bribes in full view of the public. Just last week in the city at Vlissengen road, an officer held up traffic after he was talking to the driver, whose expensive car was in the way, then the driver slipped money into his hand. A taxi driver who was held up in the traffic told the officer that what he did was wrong. The officer then replied; "Wah happen we got to get we thing too".