Is this the way the Guyana Police Force treats its retired members?

Jan 12, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

Late last year, I bounced into a very good friend of mine, who is no other than Rudy Levans, as he is popularly known. He is also a former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

He was an admirable police who was always neat, helpful, and polite, and he carried out his duties without fear. I enquired from him where he was stationed and what his position in the GPF was, and he then told me that he was retired. He retired as the rank of Chief Inspector on the 1st of April, 2008, after proceeding on retirement leave on the 18th of November, 2007.

Of course, I was disappointed when he told me the rank he retired at, because he is a brilliant individual. Only if there were persons above him in the GPF who could not find him favourable for elevation could he come off at that rank.

What was indeed shocking to me was when I asked him how many years he served as a policeman; his reply was 35 years. I said to him, “Of course, you had to be given a medal at the end of such a sterling contribution at your farewell.” He said to me that he was never welcomed, nor was there a farewell for him.

If this is so, is this the way the Guyana Police Force Administration treats its members who have given more than half their lives to the organisation? Is there a Welfare Department?

Munesh Singh