Quoting Napoleon to support police promotions

Jun 09, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

I perused the recent list of police sergeants promoted to inspectors by the Police Service Commission. I am both happy and sad. Happy that after much wrangling between the Police Service Commission and the Guyana Police Force the long overdue promotion was approved and made public.
I am perturbed that the date of promotion was given as 26. 05 . 16 . According to Kaieteur News, May 29, 2016 ,” the staggered promotion was a result of the late submission of recommendation by the Police Administration to the Police Service Commission.” Even if that was so the promotion date should not have been staggered. The legitimately expected promotion date was 01.01. 16. That was the appointed date the last set of promoted assistant superintendents were given. Hence, the recently promoted inspectors who filled the vacancies created by the upward mobility of the assistant superintendents should have been given 01. 01 . 16 . as their date of promotion.
As it now stands, those inspectors will lose some earnings for five months. I also discovered to my chagrin that there was no consequential. l had expected to see the names of fifty one corporals being promoted to the rank of sergeants to take the place of those who were elevated to inspectors and a corresponding number of lance corporals and constables replacing the promoted corporals. Perhaps, the promotion will be made in time to come. Hope that the date of appointment will be 01. 01. 16. and not on the date the promotion is announced as is the current trend.
The relationship between the PSC and the GPF does not appear to be well. Therefore, ranks will suffer. Those two important ubiquitous bodies have been washing their dirty linen in the public. One would have thought that by now they would have buried the hatchet. Maybe, that was done, but, apparently they left the handle exposed and somebody picked it up. The time is ripe for both parties to let better judgement prevail and to work in unison in the interest of members of the force and the country as a whole. To do otherwise will cause the ranks to lose money and other benefits which may create an environment for them to be demotivated.
The motivational theories of Maslow, Herzberg, Skinner, Vroom, and Morse and Lorsch reveal that monetary reward is not the main stimulant for motivation to take place, but that it is a very important and necessary one. Over the past months the police performance has been remarkable. The green shoots are now bearing fruits as i had predicted. The morale of members of the force is excellent. It must be kept that way. Napoleon observed, referring to his army: “An army’s effectiveness depends on its size, training, experience and morale and morale is worth more than all the other factors combined.” This may be applicable to the Guyana Police Force. To keep levels of motivation and morale high, the police must be given recognition and award for outstanding work done. What about a stimulus package for the police?
Whenever there is evidence that the police take bribe or are engaged in other inappropriate behaviour they are dealt with condignly. On the other hand, they must be rewarded for top class performance. Permit me to repeat what I wrote a few weeks ago in a letter to the editor. Hammer the police whenever they transgress, but please, give them their just reward, however infinitesimal it may be. Let justice and fair play prevail in the GPF.
Clinton Conway
Assistant Commissioner Of Police ( Retired )
Clinton Conway
Security Manager
Troy Resources Guyana Inc.

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