President orders police promotions halted

Aug 09, 2017 News

– Opposition says commission’s independence trampled

The Opposition is raising concerns about Government’s interference, after the Police Service Commission was purportedly written to late last month asking that all promotions be halted.
The Opposition…the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)…in a statement yesterday disclosed it has come into possession of a letter that was sent to the independent Police Service Commission, which oversees promotions.
A copy of the letter, released to the media, indicated that it was prepared by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on behalf of President David Granger.
In the letter dated July 26, addressed to the commission’s secretary, Marvalyn Stephens, Minister Harmon said that President Granger has “directed that there be no consideration of promotions for members of the Guyana Police Force by the Police Service Commission, until further notice”.
The purported letter was copied to the President.
The statement from the Leader of the Opposition noted that the letter is but another “vulgar and authoritarian” attempt by the President to trample upon the independence and functional autonomy of a Constitutional agency.
“The President and his Government continue, on a daily basis, to violate the rule of law, assault important democratic institutions and breach, in the most egregious fashion, the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,” the statement from the Leader of the Opposition said.
It was pointed out that Article 226(1) of the Constitution clearly states: “In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”.
The Police Service Commission is one of the commissions to which Article 226(1) makes reference.
“By his directions, it is clear that the President Granger demonstrates absolute disrespect and disregard for the letter and spirit of the Constitution and therefore, continues to contravene its provisions with impunity.”
The Opposition made it clear that the nation has already witnessed similar unconstitutional actions by the President and his Government in respect to another significant Constitutional commission – the Public Service Commission, whose chairman, Carvil Duncan, was “hounded and persecuted out of office” because he refused to compromise and sell his integrity and independence and that of the Public Service Commission, to this Government.
“We urge the Police Service Commission not to succumb to these unconstitutional and unlawful directives but to continue to discharge its mandate in the manner provided for by the Constitution.”

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