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Rear Admiral Gary Best would be an excellent Commissioner of Police

Aug 24, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
Congratulations to Army Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Gary Best, MSS on his recent elevation which speaks well of the confidence that the government reposes in his ability as a military administrator. However, I would like to focus my thoughts today on Gary Best’s potential contribution to law enforcement – more specifically as head of the Guyana Police Force. Admiral Best’s knowledge of the law as a former practicing attorney will – I think stand him in good stead head and shoulders above any one of the current aspirants to the post. He has transformed the GDF and under his watch many positives have accrued for the benefit of his troops. This is not to say that under Brigadier Edward Collins positives did not happen, but by virtue of the political administration’s demonstrated commitment to professional development of the army with Best at the helm, these were more obvious.
Appointing a former army officer of Best’s caliber as COP provides certain guarantees including respect for the rule of law at all levels; restriction of prohibited associations; and definite forward movement in the area of police reform and modernization. This type of cross-over between uniformed services would not be a first in the English-speaking Caribbean since the end of colonialism. Retired Major-General Norman McLean went from the GPF to successfully head the GDF. Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Cecil Kilkenny became Director of Prisons after moving from the Police Training School; currently retired Assistant Commissioner Welton Trotz is acting as Director. During his tenure as Commissioner of Police, former army officer and national security minister, the late Colonel Trevor McMillan, 572 allegations of misconduct or 10 percent of the Jamaican Constabulary were investigated. Suffice it to say that the JCF returned to its old pattern of corruption after his tenure ended.
It should be noted that the President is not confined to appointing the Commissioner from among the serving officers; this effectively discommodes the accepted convention that the Deputy Commissioner ‘Law Enforcement’ is automatic choice for the position. Laurie Lewis came from the National Guard Service and assumed the top spot. Sir Harold Scott was the first Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (1945-1953) without any police or military background since Sir Richard Mayne (1855-1868). In my view the post of Commissioner should be applied for and applicants subject to the most stringent examination process up to and including polygraph testing. Successful applicants should be appointed for no more than five years.
Sylvia St Romain

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