Police officers get $12.3M in awards

Jul 17, 2014 News

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– Commissioner urges ranks to avoid abuse of power

By Kiana Wilburg
Apart from those instances where there is abuse of power by the members of the Guyana Police Force, a snapshot of the outstanding performance of some members is certainly deserving of awards.

Yesterday, 13,000 officers, Inspectors and other ranks who performed exceedingly well within the past few months received $12.3M in awards at the Tactical Services Unit Square, Eve Leary.
These incentives are expected to contribute to and to promote constructive competition, teamwork and an overall improvement of the service provided to the public.
Chairing the event which occurs twice annually during the force’s anniversary celebrations, was Assistant Commissioner “Administration”, Balram Persaud.
Before the awards were presented, the feature address was delivered by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud.
Persaud told the gathering that the event has a positive motivational impact on the ranks as it recognizes efforts they made beyond the normal call of duty.
This kind of motivation, he said, continues to impact positively on the services provided and as such underscores why the ceremony remains relevant since it started in 1990.
He highlighted several future projects and plans that the force intends to implement. He said that it is therefore reasonable for the public to expect that with the substantial investment government is making in the Police Force, the service they provide will improve incrementally, over time.
The Top Cop then spoke about the abuse of power by some members of the police force.
While it is believed by some sections of the public that the police are slow to prosecute when their own steps over to the criminal side, Persaud insisted yesterday that “the way we treat with police abuses has been addressed.”
“There are a number of initiatives taken to prevent the abuses.  You would have seen from the Sparendaam incident that the investigation was completed much faster than those before.
“Officers who dealt with the issue unprofessionally, and not in a way to discourage it, were charged criminally with obstructing the course of justice. A number of departmental disciplinary charges are likely to follow.”
Persaud added, “Abuse by officers is a major concern and there are a number of measures that we have put in place. When patrols engage civilians on their own they have to call in.
“If they make any arrests they have to clear it with the person in charge of the station and he has to be satisfied that it is a justified arrest and the detention is also justified.”
“Commanders have to check on prisoners in custody everyday and someone will report to him or her on the persons in custody. We have put bulletins in place outlining the rights of victims and prisoners and cellular numbers are also there so that you can contact persons in charge of the Division.”
The Commissioner also said that though the crime statistics at this time show that “we are nine percent down relative to the same period last year, we have a nine percent increase in murders and a 25 percent increase in gun related robberies.”

He added, “All divisions are showing overall decreases with the exception of ‘F’ Division which is showing an increase. However, ‘A’ Division, even though it is showing a two percent reduction overall, it has a 25 percent increase in gun related robberies.”
With regard to road fatalities, he said, that the statistics show that fatal accidents have increased by six percent, from 53 last year to 56 this year.  The Commissioner said that the Traffic Department will increase its efforts in traffic education and enforcement.
Though the statistics signify improvement in some areas, the Top Cop recognized that there is room for improvement and said that the implementation of the Force’s Strategic Plan will bring about a transformation of the organization.
He said, “At the top, our decision-making structure has changed with an Executive Leadership Team addressing Policy and a Performance Group addressing operations.
“This, coupled with a procedure to take decisions on the basis of research and analysis, is making the Force a proactive one.”
“In policing today’s society that is punctuated with youth gangs and organized crime such as narco-trafficking, firearms trafficking, money laundering, and trafficking in persons, a proactive Police Force is absolutely necessary.
“The approach also includes monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of plans.”
Persaud said that the force has seen sustained efforts at intelligence collaboration with operations that led to the dismantling of the Hot Skull Gang in Albouystown.
He spoke about the successful arrest and charge of almost all the perpetrators of the Meten-Meer-Zorg Robbery under arms/murder, some of whom also allegedly perpetrated an armed robbery in Wakenaam.
He spoke about the other successes due to the new approach to collaboration in the force. “We have seen that within 48 hours, the gold stolen from Port Kaituma was recovered.
“We have also seen that after the escape of four prisoners from the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court complex, they were recaptured; two in Georgetown, one in Berbice and the other at Omai, way up the Essequibo River.
“That kind of capacity and collaboration which was demonstrated will continue to grow,” Persaud said.
Each Division, he said, is now implementing plans to further integrate the Community Policing Groups’ in its operations. He also spoke on several projects taken on by the force such as the most well known one, the Impact Albouystown project.
He said that a suicide hotline will soon be established which will see appropriate psychosocial help given to “depressed persons who call in.”
“The third project we are working on will help victims of serious crimes.  The objective is to have counselors from the Guyana Police Force and the faith-based organizations provide counseling for victims and relatives of victims of serious crimes and act as a liaison between Police investigators and victims.
“They will provide feedback on the investigation. In order to effectively manage those activities, the Force will soon introduce a Community Relations Branch.”

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