Georgetown: President David Granger is awaiting recommendations of the Police Service Commission (PSC) so that he can appoint a substantive Commissioner of Police and four Deputy Commissioners of Police.
The president was speaking at the swearing-in of the commission this morning at State House.
Following the recommendations, the president will then hold consultations with Chairman of the Commission, Paul Slowe and the Leader of the Opposition, “as soon as practical,” before making his decision, in accordance with Article 211 of the Constitution of Guyana.
Addressing the media after the ceremony, the president said Slowe has to first meet with the other commissioners to review the list of potential candidates. “I told him [Slowe] that I am ready at any time for such a consultation but I am prohibited from proceeding without a consultation,” he noted.
The president re-emphasised the need for the Police Commissioner to possess intelligence, integrity and independence. The person of his choice must also be “unbribable” and impartial, President Granger said.
“I want someone who is intelligent and committed to carrying out the programme of Security Sector Reform, who has the initiative and who can generate public trust,” he noted.
The president had interviewed eight Assistant Commissioners and understands the pool from which the Police Service Commission must select. He said recommendations of appointees from other jurisdictions were presented, however, the president is confident that Guyana has competent persons to fill the positions.
“I intend to appoint a Guyanese…I think Guyanese need that, a Commissioner they can look up to and I expect that he will be supported by four deputy commissioners. We haven’t had four deputy commissioners for a long time and the hierarchy has been flat, everybody is of the same rank,” the president stated.
In his address to the newly sworn-in commissioners, which includes Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Michael Somersall, the president said the Guyana Police Force can only effectively fulfill its tasks, as stipulated by the Constitution, if it is commanded by a corps of officers who are “competent, committed and uncorrupted.”
It is therefore incumbent upon the commission to ensure persons of the highest caliber are appointed to the Police Force, the president emphasised.
The GPF’s commanders, he said, must possess the attributes of independence, intelligence and integrity.
The Police Service Commission, the president noted, is vested with the authority to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in high offices within the Force or even remove them from office.
“This is an important function in the present security situation. Security Sector Reform is being pursued, it is expected that future appointees will vigorously carry out the approved reforms which aim at restoring public trust and reinforcing the Force’s capability of fighting crime,” President Granger said.
The need for Security Sector Reform has become more urgent following the release of the report of the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry into the death of eight miners in 2008, the president added.
The findings of the report reveal the need for a more careful selection of officers and improved intelligence gathering.
President Granger made it clear that, “the days of concealing Security Sector’s mistakes and misdeeds are over, the Force’s officers will be held accountable for their actions and for their instructions they issue to their subordinates.”
The commission’s independent status, the president said, can contribute to building public trust in the Guyana Police Force, boosting morale of the officers and to ensuring the efficacy of law enforcement.
Vesta Adams, Clinton Conway and Claire Jarvis are the other members of the commission.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, Security Sector Reform Adviser, Russell Combe and officials of the Guyana Police Force attended the event.
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