Mr. President, please choose wisely

Jul 04, 2018 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
It is common belief among Guyanese that the word corruption, refers specifically to the involvement of individuals taking money to do things when they ought not to do so. Corruption and its implications are actually more far reaching than most would want to think.
The recent transfer of police ranks after they did not act on a direct order from superior officers to “stand down” in the execution of their duties, in relation to an errant motorist who was driving a heavily tinted vehicle, and had a number of inconsistencies with his documents, some of which were not enforced, could likely be considered a corrupt act.
How does corruption apply to this matter? The laws that govern the Guyana Police Force presently state that ranks are supposed to carry out the orders of their superiors. But what does that mean, should a rank kill someone if they are so ordered? What then guides the superiors from not making wrong decisions, and giving orders that will be detrimental to others? Are there any orders that could be disobeyed? If a police rank has been trained in the laws of Guyana, what should cause that rank to take an order to disobey those laws?
Is it not corrupt to go against the laws you were trained to uphold? Are the laws of Guyana only for the common man, and do not apply to high-ranking officials? Have there been any cases that persons were caught in illegal acts relating to drugs and murder, that ranks where asked to “stand down”? Is the fact that there is an epidemic of transfers of police ranks countrywide, after ranks would have carried out their duties in accordance with the laws of Guyana, not a worrying one?
Does the Guyana Police Force depend on any one man’s personal opinions to guide it? Is the Guyana Police Force being interfered with politically, and if so, where is the change that Guyanese were promised? The recent revelations of transfers “willy-nilly”, have raised hundreds of questions that bring the word corruption to the forefront.
At a time when the Guyana Police Force credibility is questions on a daily basis, and there is a quest for a new substantive Top Cop, it is therefore very important that the Commander-in-Chief take a number of considerations when choosing a head for this noble entity.
He must not only be looking at qualifications, but the qualities that would suggest a “fit and proper” person that is very much needed for an organization that depends on stability among other things, if Guyanese are going to see a better life, which doesn’t only apply to financial benefits, but safety and security.
A promise if not fulfilled will shine a bad light on the Government, when Government alone is not responsible for the country’s security, but are the guiders of policies that bring security, with the police force expected to enforce the laws that derive from those policies.
Mr. President, please choose wisely.
Guyanese Critic

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