Corbin ‘nitpicking’ over Greene’s appointment

Aug 22, 2008 News

– President Jagdeo

Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo says that Leader of the main Opposition Party, Robert Corbin, is nitpicking and playing petty politics as it relates to the appointment to the substantive post of the Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene.

According to Jagdeo, in his previous meeting with Corbin which was an exploratory meeting on the issue, the PNCR leader did not object to the appointment of Greene as Commissioner of Police.

Jagdeo said he does not need the approval of Corbin to appoint Greene neither will he change his mind.

He noted that his recollection of the meeting was since they were in agreement on Greene then there was no need for further consultations and they would take that meeting as if it was the consultation meeting.

“He is saying now that we have written him the consultation needs to happen…It’s all nitpicking. I am very disappointed.”

Jagdeo said that he was surprised to read in the media of Corbin’s position.
It was reported in one section of the media on Thursday that Corbin was still awaiting meaningful consultations with Jagdeo about confirming Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene to the top position of the Guyana Police Force, two months after the first meeting to discuss the subject.

Greene has been acting as Police Commissioner for just over two years.

”I am waiting on the President to begin the formal talks,” Corbin said, adding that there was a constitutional procedure which should be upheld whereby the President should write to him, telling him what he wants to do.

He stated that since the informal conversation in which the Head-of-State had indicated that he would like to appoint Greene, he had had “no missive from the President.”

Greene was appointed Acting Commissioner of Police in July 2006 and according to Article 211 of the constitution, “the Commissioner of Police and every Deputy Commissioner of Police shall be appointed by the President acting after meaningful consultation 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.”