The choice of a new Commissioner of Police will not be easy

Aug 11, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
The Police Force needs to rebuild its relationship with the public and President David Granger must be commended for activating the recently appointed Police Service Commission with persons who once held top positions in the Guyana Police Force.
Those appointed to the constitutional body are: retired assistant commissioners Paul Slowe, Clinton Conway, Vesta Adams and Claire Jarvis along with Public Service Commission Chairman, Attorney Michael Sommersal.
The former law enforcement officers must hold rogue cops accountable and ensure those that betray the public’s trust and use their positions to facilitate and commit crimes are dealt with condignly.
Members of the Force should recognise they are public servants and betrayal of this concept of authority should not be allowed to prevail.
The President has seen it fit to ensure that persons who know the nitty-gritty of the Force are there to make the best possible decisions and choices that will ensure members of the Force are career driven with the best opportunities and promotions based on their development to serve the public in the best way possible.
Persons in the Force should only be promoted on merit and not political affiliations since this has only brought the Police Force into disrepute.
And it is a known fact that the choice of a new Commissioner of Police will not be an easy task since the President has high ideals for the person that shall sit in that position.
When appointed, the new Commissioner will recognise that without the cooperation of the public, which provides information and intelligence, the capacity of the Police to solve crime would be severely diminished.
The President has insinuated that it is his intention that new leadership will revive efforts at good community relations, which is recognised the world over as vital to crime-solving.
The new Commissioner of Police will also understand that good relations with the community depends on fair and balanced investigation of complaints by members of the public against the Police.
As far as the public is aware, there are two bodies, which are concerned with this area, namely, the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Police Complaints Authority. Their jurisdictions and mandates are not clearly delineated in the public mind.
The public has a high expectation of the incoming commissioner who will need to address issues of criminality and the protection and safety of the public, which is paramount to the Force’s existence.
Yours sincerely
Halim Khan
President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce

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