Linden Commission of Inquiry…Lawyer says Rohee “failed to enhance the Police Force”

Nov 02, 2012 News

By Latoya Giles
Attorney at law Basil Williams yesterday grilled the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee as to why several recommendations in relation to police reform have not been implemented. Williams also suggested that the Police Complaints Authority lacked ‘investigative capacity,’ thus providing no recourse for the public.
The Minister returned yesterday to complete his evidence in chief before the Linden Commission of Inquiry.
The Minister, in his defence, told the Commissioners that when he makes a request “it will be considered by his Ministry.”
Williams also sought to delve into the ramifications of there being a ‘perceived lack of confidence’ in the Police’s Office of Professional Responsibility
Asked if he believes that the work of the Office of Professional Responsibility is being curtailed because of its dependence on the Guyana Police Force, the Minister suggested otherwise and reminded that it is a “contracted employee.”
The Office of Professional Responsibility is headed by a retired Assistant Police Commissioner.
Minister Rohee stated that the administration’s long term objective is to strengthen the overall “integrity of the Guyana Police Force,” inclusive of its Office of Professional Responsibility.
He pointed to “more recommendations,” expected from a Contracted Consultant and was also grilled over the recommendations already submitted by the Disciplined Services Commission.
Suggesting that he is not sure as to what takes place in Guyana, Jamaica-born Commissioner KD Knights, cautioned Rohee, against asking “police to investigate a police.”
Knights spoke of a ‘squadie mentality,’ which is developed among ranks in Jamaica and suggested that when such an occurrence exists, a ‘police rank’ would not be the best person, to be asked to investigate another police rank.
According to Knight, he would have to look at and know the genesis, because the police force is the only organization in a country that investigates in relation to criminal matters. He asserted that no other organization does that. Knights said that it investigates itself for disciplinary matters and it investigates itself for criminal matters.
“For example if a judge commits a criminal offence, it’s the police who investigate him, and if judges or any other lawyers professionally commit some unethical act, that’s dealt with internally. If they commit a criminal offence, it’s the police” Knights stressed.
He noted that the only way equality can be brought to society is to have an independent body investigate the allegations of criminal acts by the police so that nobody, no organization in the society, will be able to investigate itself in criminal matters, so the OPR has to be transformed into the body that investigates disciplinary matters, the commissioner posited.
Williams proceeded to question Rohee about whether he is in charge of National Security, to which the Minister indicated he was not. Williams went on to suggest that the force has done nothing since the “crime wave” which begun in 2002, to help reform it – a position the Minister denied, stating that the force has ongoing training.
Rohee was also questioned about the recent shootings of Shaquille Grant and Dameon Belgrave. The two were shot and killed in separate incidents. One policeman has being charged with the Grant killing, while the police are still investigating the other incident.
The minister admitted that no one has been charged in connection with those murders during the crime wave. He was then asked by Williams if he was aware that the force is using excessive force. Rohee replied that that was a judgment issue. Williams suggested to the minister that nothing has changed and that he had failed to curb the use of excessive force or to enhance the police force. Rohee denied both assertions.
Rohee was then asked about the entry requirements in the force, to which he answered that a minimum requirement was three subjects at CXC. However Williams suggested that a report which was done stated that the basic requirement was “primary education”.

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