Public bounty for Joint Services is bad precedent

Nov 08, 2008 News

“Traditionally, ranks that performed above and beyond the call of duty were discreetly rewarded” – Trotman

The Government has set a bad precedent in offering a public bounty to members of the Joint Services for the killing or apprehension of high profile criminals or suspects.
This is according to leader of the Alliance For Change, Raphael Trotman, who said that, traditionally, ranks that performed above and beyond the call of duty were discreetly rewarded, and were not allowed to share in a public bounty.
This, Trotman said, would see ranks competing with civilians for bounty.
He posited that when the ranks are not paid, as in the case of the ranks involved in the Neil Bovell fiasco, the lack of morale and motivation to carry out their mandate would obviously evolve.
This is obviously the case when the ranks are expressing frustration and lack of motivation at not receiving the promised money.
The ranks involved in the killing of Rondell Rawlins are now uneasy and unclear whether the $50M that was approved in the National Assembly will ever reach their pockets.
The National Assembly recently approved $50M for payment of reward, wherein $20M will be turned over to the Police Force and another $20M to the GDF, while the remaining $10M will be tuned over to the Defence Board for payment to a civilian.
Recently, members of the police force involved in the operation that nabbed Bovell expressed an obvious lack of motivation, given that they had not received the promised bounty.
It’s been almost two years since Bovell’s reign of terror ended on the West Bank of Demerara, and to date the ranks who risked their lives to kill him have not received a penny of the promised reward of $3M.
This newspaper also understands that the person who provided the tip had indicated that he was not interested in the reward.
But, according to one of the 10 ranks who were on the Bovell operation, apart from the annual police reward, no mention is being made about the Government reward that was offered for the capture or killing of the late fugitive.
“We went on that operation even without vests and we could have lost our lives. They ain’t telling we nothing about de money,” the rank said.
On December 27, 2006, the three-year manhunt for Bovell ended when he was gunned down by the police at Inner Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara.
The ex-cop was riddled with bullets as he fled from his father’s house in an attempt to seek refuge in a thickly vegetated area nearby.
The police had received a call from someone in the area that Bovell was at his father’s house. A senior rank and a party of policemen responded in an unmarked car.
Upon seeing the ranks, Bovell, who was reportedly preparing to cook a meal, made a dash for freedom, but by then the ranks had managed to surround the area.
Bovell led the ranks on a dramatic chase through a muddy track, dodging bullets.
He managed to flee as far as a few lots away, but was eventually cornered and killed.
Bovell’s father is currently before the courts charged with harbouring a fugitive.

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Public bounty for Joint Services is bad precedent

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