Distinguished police officer’s career ends

Jun 05, 2010 News

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“One of the happiest days of my life” – Paul Slowe DSM

It was his last day in the Police Force, and Disciplinary Service Medal (DSM) Awardee, Paul Slowe, was not going to remain quiet or make excuses for the reason why he served for over 11 years as Assistant Commissioner without any further promotion.
Yesterday, he said he remains convinced that he was not promoted – to perhaps Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner – because he refused to obey an “unlawful order” from the then Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj. No government official was at the farewell parade held in Slowe’s honour at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Square at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

In the past, whenever he was asked the question as to why he stayed on the job without a promotion for those 11 years, he would say that for a certainty it had nothing to do with his qualification or his ability to do the job. But then he would stop short. But yesterday, in his official farewell speech, Slowe did not hold back.
“I remain convinced that I was denied promotion because of the incident I referred to earlier which took place in Berbice,” Slowe said. The incident was in 2002, when he was Commander of ‘B’ Division, and he was asked by Minister Gajraj to return a firearm to someone from whom it was seized.
He said it was because of his professionalism that he “declined to carry out certain instructions given to me by the then Minister of Home Affairs, because as a senior police officer I have always been aware that no one can compel you to carry out an unlawful order.”
He does not regret the decision. In the presence of Commissioner of Police Henry Greene and the hierarchy of the Force, he said not being promoted “does not bother me.”
Slowe was proud to leave the Force after serving for 37 years, saying he had a clear conscience.
“I have maintained my honour, integrity, and credibility. Those are values I hold very dearly. I have been able to hold my head up high wherever I go. I am not sure that we all can say and do that,” he declared.
Slowe joined the Guyana Police Force in July 1973 as a member of the Special Constabulary and excelled as the years went by. He received promotion to the rank of Corporal in 1976, Sergeant in 1977, Inspector in 1980, Assistant Superintendent in 1984, Deputy Superintendent in 1991, Superintendent in 1992, Senior Superintendent in 1995 and Assistant Commissioner in 1999.
Slowe started off his farewell speech by quoting Psalm 112, which in part reads that “a good person will never fail; he will always be remembered. He is not afraid of receiving bad news; his faith is strong and he trusts in the Lord. He is not worried or afraid; he is certain to see his enemies defeated.”
Slowe said that professionalism has been the watchword of his career. He said it was the same professionalism that caused him to reject the Minister’s order that was at work when as commander of the Tactical Services Unit, he on October 5, 1992, demanded of his superiors that the TSU be allowed “to take the appropriate action to ensure that order was restored to Georgetown, which was being threatened by lawless elements who were determined to derail the elections process.”
It was the same professionalism that he demonstrated in 1997/1998 when his Unit was forced to take action against persons who were seeking to storm the offices of the Guyana Elections Commission.
He said his last day in the Force was “one of the happiest days of my life” and forewarned that if any tears flowed it would be tears of joy and happiness. He said he loved and enjoyed his job.
Slowe described himself while young as “own way” and “wayward” and perhaps on the verge of crossing over to the wrong side of the law.
However, it was when the crisis with Venezuela was imminent that he was persuaded to join the Guyana Youth Corps, after hearing of the ability of the Guyana Defence Force to stand up to a military assault from Venezuela.
He secretly filled in the form and left primary school without his father’s knowledge and consent; part of his reputation of being ambitious and independent.
Slowe said the Youth Corps taught him discipline and respect for authority and those lessons stayed with him.
Touching on the debate about the need for an organisation to replace the Guyana National Service, Slowe said that the need for such an organisation is greater now than then, given the serious problem of drugs and crime involving young people.
“Without some similar organisation to take care of our youths, we would continue to be faced with serious challenges,” Slowe declared emphatically.
Disappointments
Slowe used his farewell speech to touch on just two of the disappointments he faced while in the Force.
He expressed displeasure with the move to dismiss Superintendent Simon McBean who had helped to put together the national security plan for Guyana’s hosting of Cricket World Cup 2007. McBean in 2008 proceeded on a scholarship to England without the requisite permission.
“I still cannot understand how a system that claims it wants to encourage excellence can take such action against someone for seeking to better himself and by extension, the organisation and the country,” Slowe said.
Another disappointment he cited was when, in 2008, he, and a few other “deserving ranks” ,were denied the Tactical Efficiency Medal, and he was not afraid of boasting.
“I would be very immodest and say that I do not think that there is any other senior officer in the Guyana Police Force who is more deserving of the Tactical Efficiency Medal than I am,” he declared.

He also had a word of advice for new recruits: “We cannot as law enforcement officers seek to make law or take the law into our own hands because we feel the system may be inadequate.”
“If you were to do so, lawlessness will reign. We cannot break the law to enforce the law,” he stated.
“When I finally retire on August 1, I have always tried my best to conduct myself in a professional manner. As a result, there is not a single person in or out of Guyana who with justification can say Slowe asked for or was given a bribe or was involved in any other corrupt or illegal activity,” he stated, urging the young officers to aim for a similar reputation.
He spoke to those who are in command of different divisions to strive for unity and not to pursue a “win-at-all-cost” philosophy.
Among the highlights of his career, he said, was serving with the United Nations in Namibia in 1989-1990, for which he received a United Nations Peace Medal.
Upon retirement, Slowe said he will make sure to spend some quality time with his family, go to all the places he wanted to go and was unable to, and then later join his wife in the United States.

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