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Extra pay report angers Joint Services
Police Commissioner Henry Greene, Commodore Gary Best, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and President Bharat Jagdeo in impromptu discussions following the official opening of the Police Officers’ Conference yesterday.
Angered by the publication in this newspaper of payments to military officers by the Office of the President, the Joint Services have lashed out over the disclosure of the identities of its secret security officers.
Speaking to reporters yesterday following the opening ceremony of the Police Officers’ Conference at the Force’s Eve Leary Headquarters, Chairman of the Joint Services Coordinating Council (JSCC), Commodore Gary Best, said that it is unfortunate that the media compromised the security of the officers who are part of a GSM Tracker Unit.
In yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, it was revealed that six officers, three each from the Guyana Defence and Police Forces were receiving a stipend of $30,000 from the Office of the President (OP)for what is described as additional works.
In memos from the permanent secretary of the Office of the President, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, the Acting Chief Accountant was advised that approval was given for the payment to the officers for the month of February.
The article published the names of the officers and their bank account numbers to which the stipend should be credited. This has not gone down well with the military.
Commodore Best told members of the media that while the names of the officers are already public knowledge, the media should have exercised more caution, since such action has compromised the security of the officers who he said are working for the protection of all, including members of the media.
A written statement issued yesterday said that Commodore Best has noted the Kaieteur News article and wishes to state that “there is nothing unusual about these payments, because they are payments for Joint Services activities out of the Joint Services vote which is held at the Office of The President”.
He indicated that had the vote been with the Joint Services, these payments would have still been made.
“The activities of Joint Services intelligence operations are matters of national security and, in that context, no further information will be available to the public,” the statement said.
Although Best indicated that there is “nothing unusual about these payments”, legal and political observers have indicated that it is highly improper for the Office of the President to pay a stipend to officers of the state security apparatus.
But one former senior Police Officer said that he sees nothing wrong with having persons from the military seconded to the Office of the President and receiving a stipend. However, he noted that the government should have indicated that officers are seconded to be part of the intelligence apparatus of the Office of the President.
The fact that it was revealed by the media makes the whole scenario look bad, the former senior officer told this newspaper.
“All they had to do was announce it. That would have created a much more comfortable environment.”
Yesterday, President Bharat Jagdeo said that his administration is in the process of establishing a $700M intelligence nerve centre, which he assured will not be used to spy on political opponents.
Meanwhile, no proper explanation was given for the payment for a rented property in favour of one of the GDF officers in the unit, except to point to the security of the officer.
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