Senior police officers will be held accountable for their actions -President Granger tells ranks at opening of Police Officers Conference
Jan 11, 2019 , https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...officers-conference/
Noting that a corrupt police force cannot guarantee the security of its citizens, President David Granger yesterday told the Force’s senior ranks that they will be held accountable if they are found to be untrustworthy.
“Officers, the days of concealing security sector mistakes and misdeeds are over. The Force’s officers will be held accountable for the consequences of their actions and the instructions that they issue to their subordinates.”
President Granger and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan during the march past
Granger issued the warning while addressing participants at the opening of Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference. The event was held at State House for the first time and the Head of State, undergoing chemotherapy while facing the prospect of early elections, quipped that the ranks will see him again in the next year.
The three-day conference is being held under the theme of “Security Sector Reform Implementation – Enhancing Capacity Through Training, Infrastructure and Human Resource Management.”
Describing 2019 as “a special year for the Guyana Police Force, which is celebrating its 180th year in existence, Granger said that the safety of citizens and the security of the state, and stability of the economy are of paramount concern to the Government.
“Security and stability can be guaranteed best by a strong police force. Guyana looks to the police force to ensure that its citizens are protected from crime and criminality…” “The Police Force, if it is to maintain public security, must ensure it enjoys public trust…”
Emphasizing his commitment to security sector reform, the Head of State noted that Government resuscitated the Police Service Commission and the Police Complaints Authority last year.
“Security sector reform must be accelerated to strengthen this vital institution (the Police Service Commission) in 2019. Reform will revive the Force’s institutional framework…
“Security sector reform is being pursued, it is expected that the reforms will be carried out with the aim of restoring public trust in the Force, reinforcing the Force’s capability to fight crime and promoting men and women only of the highest integrity to become officers,” Granger said.
“The PSC in particular has a role to play with its independent status in enhancing public trust in the Force, and boosting the morale of officers….
“The principles of merit, the principles of discipline; these principles, if applied fairly can encourage probity and discourage misconduct.
“The Commission’s support for the objective of security sector reform can ensure that there will be within the Force a corps of senior officers who are committed to effective police administration, operation, investigation and intelligence gathering, to ensuring sound leadership of subordinate officers and constables and …being capable of ensuring public trust.
“The appointment of the Commission, a credible Commission, was essential to the efficiency of the Police Force and to the security of the state.”
But Granger said that the existence of the PSC was not enough to guarantee that the Force is headed by officers who are “committed and uncorrupted.”
“A Force which is contaminated by corruption cannot safeguard the security of its citizens. Service to the Force must be based on value and incorruptibility.”
The head of state also noted the challenges that the Force faces, with its shortage of ranks and equipment.
President Granger inspects ranks on parade
“The force’s membership of about 4,600 is inadequate and needs to be augmented. Our country of over 215,000 square kilometers–larger than England and Scotland combined– is challenged to maintain security everywhere.
“Most parts are only accessible by aircraft, of which the Force has none; by boat, which the police have a few; or by foot…but the police have to go there.”
These geographical and demographical factors place a burden on the Force’s organisational and administration capabilities.
Officers in this regard are selected, trained , promoted and tasked to command the Force’s manpower and manage its resources in this varied landscape.
“The Force is not only for desk-bound and landlubbers. Officers have to get out of their offices into the regions. The more senior officers must inspect, must report and correct problems where they arise. Every bicycle, every book, every vehicle must be checked daily to ensure they are fit and proper…”
Earlier, Commissioner of Police Leslie James said that the Force has been “demonstrating leadership through collective leadership.”
Commissioner James noted that last year, he joined with his four deputies and visited all the police locations countrywide.
He also spoke of an eleven percent decline in serious crimes in 2019.
We will remain resolute and focused in our ideals as our mandate is very clear. Public security will be maintained.
“Public trust has been an issue (in the past) but we have taken steps to ensure that our citizens and members of the public are treated fairly.”
He added that last year’s Local Government Elections were incident-free.
The conference ends on Saturday. Preparation for early General Elections is likely to be one of the key issues that will be discussed.