Police promotions eagerly anticipated

Dec 30, 2010 News

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– Top Cop’s position likely to remain the same in election year

January 1, is one of the most anticipated days for members of the Guyana Police Force. It is the day when their careers either take an upward movement or in many cases they are overlooked for promotion.
This year will be no different, but there are many, especially those in the lower bracket whose anxiety levels will reach hit the roof.
These will include those ranks who have been in the force for more than a decade and who have not been among the favoured ones.
They would have watched others who came after them reached heights that they only dreamed of despite the vast knowledge they would have acquired during their years of law enforcement duties.

For example, there are still many with regulation numbers in the 15,000 who remain at the lowest rank in the force, while some with later numbers even in the 18 thousands who have been elevated to as high as inspectors.
This is not to say that some people do not deserve their promotions. However there are some ranks who strongly believe that favouritism is a prerequisite for promotion.
The force’s administration will argue that those who were not promoted did not write the promotional examinations.
However this newspaper has evidence of a number of constables who have been successful in examination as far as inspectorate, and are still to be promoted.
“Once you have served more than a decade, you are entitled to an automatic promotion,” a senior officer of the force told this newspaper.
Another argument is that many junior ranks have disciplinary departmental matters pending and this is affecting their promotions.
But some of these ranks have indicated that it is no fault of theirs that these matters have been prolonged, much to their disadvantage.
Kaieteur News understands that after two years, incomplete departmental matter become null and void and should not stand in the way of promotion.
Police Commissioner Henry Greene, when asked about promotions a while ago, had pointed to the availability of vacancies in the various Divisions and Departments.
A similar situation applies to the seniors in the force, who rely on vacancies to be elevated.
However, their elevations are stymied by the fact that many retired officers remain in key positions in the organization, either by patronage or necessity.
For example, the police public relations department is headed by a retired officer, so too is the music department as well as the force’s training section.
The argument is that there are not many who are qualified to fill the positions should these retirees be sent off.
This is unlike the case of the Office of Professional Responsibilities (OPR), which is headed by two retired Assistant Commissioners, and the Special Constabulary, which is now headed by Retired Assistant Commissioner Welton Trotz.
“Nothing is wrong with these appointments because it is wise to have retired officers man these areas, especially the OPR, which is mandated to investigate complaints against members of the force. There will be no strings attached there,” a serving officer reasoned.
But the area of concern is the appointment of Deputy Commissioners to fill vacancies that have existed for years.
At present, there are three Assistant Commissioners who are discharging the responsibilities of offices that require substantive Deputy Commissioners- Administration, Operations and Law Enforcement.
These are Assistant Commissioners Leroy Brummell, Khrishna Lakeraj and Seelall Persaud respectively.
And with Lakeraj scheduled to leave the force next year March, another vacancy will exist, so it is easy to assume that this year will see another Assistant Commissioner being appointed.
The last to assume such position is the present Commander of the Force’s Interior Division David Ramnarine.
There is also a report that a senior officer serving in Berbice has accepted payment in lieu of leave having already reached the age of retirement.
Others on the outward list for the coming year are Senior Superintendent Colin West and the head of the controversial Police Finance Department Senior Superintendent Courtland Gordon.
The position of Commissioner of Police is not expected to be challenged since the administration appears satisfied with the tenure of Henry Greene who is three years past his retirement and battling a heart complaint.
Another area of grave concern is the force’s intelligence area, the Special Branch.
This area is currently being headed by a Senior Superintendent.
But there is unlikely to be any changes in the hierarchy of this department which is being watered down
since there are other intelligence groups doing similar work which is being coordinated by the Criminal Investigations Department.
This is coupled with the intention to establish an independent intelligence unit at the Office of the President.
But in another few days all the speculation will be put to rest and a clearer picture of the forward movement of the force, especially in an election year, will be made manifest.

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