The President has unlimited power over the armed forces in Guyana

Aug 19, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
The President of Guyana is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. He is the CEO. He is the final and highest authority over all the men and women serving in uniform across Guyana. All members of the armed forces serve at the pleasure of the Commander in Chief. There is no other article in the constitution that overpowers the authority of the Commander in Chief over the armed forces.
There exists no other civil body or legislative body that overpowers the authority of the Commander in Chief over the armed forces. To be absolutely clear, all departments within the armed forces including the administrative departments of the Guyana Police Force such as the Police Service Commission (PSC), its staff including PSC chairman Omesh Satyanand exist only to carry out the policies that govern the Police Force. They do not exist to pick and choose which Presidential directive to carry out. No one interferes with the Commander in Chief as he exercises his authority over the armed forces.
No one in the PSC gets to decide if the president has constitutional authority to give any order he deems to give. It is an authority vested in the Presidency that does not require question or interpretation of the PSC. In fact the Commander in Chief is well authorized to declare no confidence in anyone who threatens his authority and dismiss them as he deems necessary without notice. The presidency means something. It stands for something. There is only one President at a time.
Once an order comes from the Commander in Chief, President Granger, it must be carried out and adhered to immediately without protest by whichever department receives it. Any disobedience by anyone serving in any capacity within the armed forces of any order given by the Commander in Chief is a challenge to the authority of the President over his armed forces. And as such, any challenge to the President’s authority over the armed forces may well be a serious misdirected act. The PSC does not hold power equal to the Commander in Chief. And just as the PSC cannot issue new directives to the armed forces or send the country to war, the PSC cannot disobey any command that is given by the Commander in Chief.
The members of the Guyana Police Force serve at the pleasure of the Commander in Chief. No officer in the Guyana Police Force may be promoted if the Commander in Chief signals no confidence in any said promotion. The authority vested in the Commander in Chief is his constitutional right.
PNC DIASPORA SUPPORTER

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News