Top Cop’s firearm licence revoked on farewell day – “I did nothing wrong”, says Commissioner Seelall Persaud

Mar 01, 2018 News

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Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud ended his tenure as the Force’s 31st Top Cop yesterday, in a pomp-filled farewell parade that was held after Government revoked the licence he issued to himself for a private gun dealership.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan further revoked Persaud’s gun licence after the state-owned Chronicle broke a story which revealed that Persaud had written an application letter to himself, then granted himself approval for his business, Professional Outdoor Supplies, to be a registered firearms dealership.
Ramjattan attended the ceremony, which was held at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. However he refused to respond to questions about his decision.
But speaking with journalists after the ceremony, outgoing Commissioner Persaud insisted that there was nothing unethical in his actions.
“Some officer give them (the Chronicle) some information that they quoted and it shocked them. I guess people are easily shocked these days.”
“If you look historically, over the last 25 years, you would see that all the Commissioners (of police), maybe with the exception of one, granted themselves firearm licences. So it’s not anything new, and we live in a society today, where one set of circumstances is good for one person, but not good for another,” Persaud said.
“Regarding the firearm dealership licence, in the 1980s there was a Commissioner who granted himself dealership licence, so there is precedence. However, I was discouraged from  going ahead with it.”
Repeatedly insisting that he had done nothing unethical, Persaud added: “No, there is precedence, it happened with all the Commissioners; (but) something is wrong with this Commissioner that they tell the public that it is wrong.”
According to the outgoing Top Cop, he only made the application in January “because the business will only start when I retire, that is in May.”
Asked if he was disappointed at the revocation of his gun dealership licence, Persaud said: “It was one line of business I was contemplating, but I have a lot of experience, a lot of credibility, so I am very confident; I’m saying I am very comfortable. I don’t think I will reapply. I don’t think I would pursue this. It is not significant.”
According to the report, it was in late January that Commissioner Persaud applied to himself, then granted himself approval for his business, Professional Outdoor Supplies, to be a registered firearms dealer, as well as being licenced to carry various calibres of weapons.
Responding to a letter dated January 29, 2018,  he had written to himself, Persaud is said to have written: ”Dear Sir, I refer to your application in relation to the above subject and wish to inform you that approval is granted for your business Professional Outdoors Supplies to become a registered Firearms Dealer.
“Please make contact with the Assistant Commissioner Law Enforcement at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, in connection with the issuing of the licence.”
The article stated that in another letter dated January 26, 2018 and headed “Application for firearm licences Mr Seelall Persaud (DSM), Persaud wrote to himself “Dear Mr Persaud, I refer to your application, in relation to the above subject and wish to inform you that approval is granted for you to be issued with firearm licences to use (1) 9MM Pistol, (1) 12, 16 or 20-Gauge Pump Action Shotgun.
“Please make contact with the Divisional Commander ‘A’ Division at the divisional headquarters, Brickdam, in connection with: the issuing of the licences and the conditions under which the licences are granted.
“You are advised to ensure that there is adequate means of security for the firearms when they are in use.” He further advised himself that “If you neglect to proceed expeditiously to obtain the necessary licences within one year, then you may be denied same if the conditions under which you were granted this approval have changed.”
Persaud also came under scrutiny last year when a Commission of Inquiry recommended that he be fired or asked to resign over his alleged role in the police handling of the probe into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.
Despite this, ranks who attended yesterday’s farewell ceremony lauded Persaud for his contributions to the Force and the legacy he has left.
In welcoming the attendees, Assistant Police Commissioner (Operations) Nigel Hoppie stated that Persaud “was always bent on crafting innovative ways of tackling crime, which has led to several major breakthroughs.
“His contribution to the organization has certainly been significant. His tireless work ethic and professionalism has set the tone for the rest of the organization to follow. He always emphasized the need for continued professional and personal development.
The retiring Top Cop was instrumental in organizing several local and overseas courses for his ranks. Hoppie noted that 217 ranks attended 115 overseas courses, and 6 421 benefitted from 251 in-service courses under his leadership.
Commissioner Persaud was born in Affiance, Essequibo, he enlisted in the Force on October 15, 1984. He received his first promotion to the rank of Cadet Officer in 1990, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in 1992, Deputy Superintendent in 1996, Superintendent in 1999, Senior Superintendent in 2003, Assistant Commissioner in 2007, Deputy Commissioner in 2012; Acting Commissioner in 2014 and subsequently appointed Police Commissioner in March 2015.
He was awarded Best Cop in 1997, and awarded the Disciplined Services Medal in 2011.
He served in various divisions in the Force, including the CID Quick Reaction Group, and at CID headquarters, (Officer in Charge of Narcotics and Crime Chief).

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