Georgetown: The annual Officers’ Conference of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) commenced today (March 12) at the Force’s Headquarters, Eve Leary. Head of State, President Donald Ramotar delivered the feature address.
An international survey conducted amongst more than 1,500 Guyanese has shown that the Guyana Police Force is the least trusted police in the entire Americas region. The level of distrust was also highest amongst Afro-Guyanese.
Resident Donald Ramotar lambasted the force over its perception in society noting that it was unacceptable to Guyanese and the Head of State.
He said the survey must be addressed objectively while explaining that the findings were indeed worrying. The Head of State called on the Police Commissioner and ranks to do what is needed immediately to change the perception or whatever mistrust continues to persist.
He pointed out that there were undeniably corrupt ranks in the force and called on the police leadership to do what it must lest he takes action into his own hands.
The President was stern in his call for those who attempt to sully the name of the force to be reprimanded and zero tolerance shown for such behavior.
“A police officer cannot be a walking contradiction,” Ramotar emphasized.
Guyana had the lowest level of trust in the police of the region; on a scale of 0 to 100, Guyana ranked a trust level of 35.3.
The survey also showed that countries such as Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Bolivia ranked just above Guyana. The neighbouring twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago ranked several spots above Guyana, while Jamaica too was a few spots ahead.
However, Zechmeister emphasised that the trend was not a new one. According to interviews carried out since 2006, Guyana’s trust in its police has been steadily declining. She noted that Guyana’s trust in its police had never been high to begin with and had never reached the levels indicated by many other interviewed countries.
In 2006, trust in the police had been recorded at 51.1. This dropped in 2009 to 48.1 and again in 2010 to 42.3.
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