http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ March 5, 2012

Unaccounted Police $ 90M..... Ramotar’s silence could evaporate his credibility

“ There is going to be a quick evaporation of any credibility and credence to the President’s utterances when he remains silent on these big issues and flagrantly sidesteps them.” This is according to Chairman of the Alliance for Change ( AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, who was at the time pointing to the silence of Head- of- State, Donald Ramotar, as it relates to an unaccounted $ 90M. The Ministry of Finance had advanced to the Home Affairs Ministry in excess of $ 90M for the feeding of police ranks that were inlyned during the 2011 Regional and General Elections. The money never made its way to the Force and Commanders were instructed by Commissioner of Police Henry Greene to solicit the public’s assistance in feeding the ranks.

Ramjattan told this publication that like any accountable Chief Executive, President Ramotar must answer questions about how he will treat with such issues as well as the allegations against the Commissioner of Police when he tells Policemen that there will be zero tolerance to police criminality and corruption.

“ It surely is hypocrisy and inconsistency when he avoids and evades such questions, after making lofty p r o• o u• c e m e• t s condemning corruption.” Ramjattan says that the Ramotar’s silence again is disturbing when as President, he says nothing about the $ 90M appropriated for feeding the Police during the Elections of 2011, when the evidence now unfolds that none of this money was so spent.

“ There will be embarrassing moments in every President’s life... but these must honestly be confronted and dealt with.

That is why he was elected President... to deal with the big questions of the day, not to run away from them.” Ramjattan lamented that the current attitude and approach of the President “ is allowing a hollow ring and much emptiness to his statements... and that is terrible for the Office.” Following confirmation by Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, that Commanders were forced to seek public assistance to feed ranks, the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had taken umbrage. During the recently held Police Officer’s Conference, Rohee expressed his displeasure over what he described as the leaking of classified information to the media by senior officers of the Guyana Police Force.

“ There are some in our midst who think that they are doing the Force good by helping to grease those sections of the Media hostile to the Law Enforcement Agencies by providing classified and internal information as well as their own personal views and analyses on sensitive issues.” The Home Affairs Minister was clearly rattled by Ramnarine’s comments especially since it is his Ministry that was supposed to administer the $ 90M that was earmarked to feed the ranks and provide for patrol duties during the elections period.

“ I want to warn about this malpractice. The Guyana Police Force is an integral Member of the Disciplined Services. As such its members are expected to behave in a disciplined manner. Once the Commissioner of Police issues a Force Order in respect to communications with the Media, it is expected that all and sundry within the Force, particularly at the Senior level, will fall in line and uphold that Order and will not seek to adopt an individualistic and egoistic stand and more so, provide their personal view to the Media,” the Home Affairs Minister told the officers.

“ That is why he was elected President... to deal with the big questions of the day, not to run away from them.”