Rohee, at the helm, will continue to damage the Police Force’s reputation

Aug 12, 2012 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

“I refer to him as the Chief Security Officer in Guyana because he fights anywhere he goes– if he is with the army, fire or anything, and he is discussing security, he always wants them to know that ‘I am the person’ and he ain’t telling them ‘I am in charge’, but how he talks– you know that he is the man!”
This is how Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell introduced Minister Clement Rohee in June of this year at a gathering of police ranks in Berbice. Brumell left no doubt in the minds of anyone as to who is in charge of the police force and more than that, he also made it clear that while the Minister may not actually use the words, “I am in charge,” everyone knows that when Rohee speaks he does so as ‘the man in charge’.
This is important in understanding the role the Minister plays in the conduct of police work. The government may want you to believe that the minister has no direct involvement in the operations of the police force, but the words of the Acting Commissioner paints a different picture. These words make it clear that what Rohee says – goes! Now, balance that against what Rohee himself has been saying in relation to the use of live fire at Linden on July 18, 2012. The Minister, on television, announced to this nation that he discussed with senior officers their plans for Linden and he made it clear to them that there was to be no use of live rounds.
We can now make two clear deductions
1- Regardless of how much Rohee thinks he is in charge of the police force, he is obviously not; or
2- Rohee is in charge of the police force and what transpired on the evening of July 18 was with his approval.
Let us examine the first position: If the police force, having discussed with their subject minister that no live rounds will be used at Linden, then they went off and did just what they told him they will not do, it is obvious that the police have no regards for their minister of government. They would have shown total disrespect and would have totally disregarded any agreement they made with the Minister. This of itself should be considered insubordination and the Minister should have had heads rolling. The Minister has made no effort to find out why his direct orders were disobeyed. Could this be because he is afraid the police would treat his demand for explanations with even more contempt?
Now to examine the second position: Let us agree with the Acting Commissioner that Rohee is ‘the man in charge’. Then, Rohee must have known what was going to take place at Linden, and even if he did not give the approval to use life fire, he obviously did not prevent or stop it. This is an extremely dangerous approach to be taken by a Minister with responsibility for national security.
The murders at Linden were the most extreme action taken by the police force under Rohee’s watch but it was not the first. Just after the 2011 Elections, protesters at the Square of the Revolution were shot at by the police. Rubber pellets were used on that occasion, they have now graduated to deadly bullets.
Couple this with the absolute lack of public confidence in the police force, the constant complaint of police harassment and brutality, torture of a teenager by the police force, allegations of rape made against the former Commissioner, persons dying while in police custody and so many other complaints against the police force, and we see the total failure of Rohee as Minister of Home Affairs.
While there may be no legislative arrangement under which the opposition can call for the removal of a minister of government, the nation expects that ministers of government will hold themselves morally responsible.
How can a minister of government effectively function if he does not have the confidence of his colleagues in the National Assembly? How will such a minister secure the support needed for legislative arrangement that will see his/her ministry better serving the people? How will a minister of national security who does not enjoy the support of the people be able to encourage support for the branches he oversees, such as the Guyana Police Force? With Rohee ‘in charge’ the police force has no hope of ever having the confidence of the people of this country.

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Rohee, at the helm, will continue to damage the Police Force’s reputation

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