Chief Constable Foo dismissed

Jan 03, 2020 News

Given his dismissal by the Local Government Commission, former Chief Constable attached to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) Andrew Foo, has moved to seek legal advice from his attorneys.
In a brief comment, Foo told Kaieteur news that he is currently consulting with his lawyers on the issue.
Foo’s dismissal was finalized last week, some three years before he was scheduled to retire. The former Chief Constable will however leave the post with all his benefits intact, a source told Kaieteur News recently.
The decision to fire Foo was based on recommendations of the Georgetown Council. The Council had moved a no-confidence motion vote and expressed its dissatisfaction with the work of the former Chief Constable.
The councillors voted to have Foo dismissed from office during a statutory meeting held at City Hall last September.
Councilor Denroy Tudor brought a case against Foo for which 19 councillors voted in favour, two voted against and three abstained.
During his presentation, Tudor nonetheless requested a recommendation that Foo be terminated from duties with all of his benefits intact and that the recommendation be forwarded to the Local Government Commission, (LGC) for approval.
Several councillors around the horse shoe table at City Hall registered their dissatisfaction at Foo’s conduct as Head of the City Constabulary Department —a unit chiefly responsible for the security of the Council, the residents, commuters and businesses in Georgetown.
Tudor particularly commented on Foo laissez-faire approach to the work. According to him, Foo’s actions have had a negative effect on the entire department.
“We have seen what conspires in the constabulary. This lax attitude is not just with Mr. Foo but it has translated to most of the city officers. There is a similar sort of nature that they all reflect.”
The Councillor, noted, therefore that it is imperative that the Council takes action to ensure that the City Constabulary Department is shifted from a downward trajectory.
“For the past nine months, I have sat at this Council meetings, I have heard numerous complaints about the constabulary. I think it is time for that to change,” he added.
Councillor, Eketa Edwards, who spoke in support of the motion of no -confidence brought against Foo, asserted that as residents of Georgetown, people want to feel safe.
“There are several of these officers stationed throughout the city on a daily basis but I beg to question why they are there?”
“Residents and commuters are being targeted and robbed. Businesses are being broken into and sadly, no action is taken. The crime situation remains without redress.”
Added to the inaction on part of the constabulary to address crime in the city, Councillor Edwards pointed to the inability of the constabulary to craft a security plan to deal with the situation.
She pointed to instances where criminal activities were undertaken seemingly right under the noses of the City Constabulary.
She emphasized that the constabulary department should be capable of providing parallel police services to deter crime within the city.
Edwards was specific to mention the report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into City Hall which concluded last year. The report had stated inter alia, Foo’s inability as the Chief Constable to lead his department.

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