Guyana’s new Top Cop sworn-in…urged to restore public trust

Former Crime Chief Leslie James, on Thursday, took the Oath of Office to serve as Commissioner of Police of the Guyana Police Force, mere hours after President David Granger made the announcement that he (James) was selected to serve in that capacity.
During the simple ceremony held at State House on Thursday evening, President Granger said the Office of Police Commissioner is a serious one that must be taken seriously. He also urged the new Top Cop to do whatever it takes to restore public trust in the work of the organization.
“The Office of Commissioner of Police is not a toy, it is not trinket, it is not a tool of political favour or patronage. The very security of the state, the safety of the Guyanese people, rests on the Police Force and the Officers who command it. And unless those officers are persons of integrity, of intelligence and impartiality, this country would never be secured and our women and children would never be safe, the Head of State said.
President David Granger, on Thursday, announced that following consultations with the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at State House, Leslie Albert James will now serve as the Commissioner of Police with immediate effect.
The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces also noted that Mr James will be supported by four deputy commissioners who are Mr Lyndon Alves, Ms Maxine Graham, Mr Nigel Hoppie and Mr Paul Williams.
These appointments will also take immediate effect as of August 30, 2018.
In an invited comment following the conclusion of the meeting, President Granger said that the four deputies will be responsible for four areas of the Force; these are Operations, Administration, Law Enforcement and Special Branch/ Intelligence.
“My intention is that the four deputies will be responsible for various aspects of the Police Force, for example, Operations, Administration, Law Enforcement and Special Branch or Intelligence. What we have done today is we have not only appointed a Police Commissioner but we have also improved the architecture of the Police Force so that instead of having a flat structure, we now have clearly defined responsibilities in those four deputy commissioners. So, things will be better. I am sure there will be better performance in those areas and other officers can now look forward to, in due course, filling those appointments. It will help to enhance the specialisation of the Police Force. It will help to spur the career mobility of officers and I am convinced that the efficiency of the Police Force as a whole will be enhanced,” the Head of State was quoted by the MotP as saying.
“I was not interested in having a foreigner head the Guyana Police Force. I felt that we had local talent. I think the process has resulted in the best five being selected to lead the force and I will be meeting later today (Thursday) with the Commissioner and deputy commissioners. I think this is the best outcome and they are all fit and proper persons to lead the Police Force,” he said.
President Granger had earlier this month said that his choice for substantive Police Commissioner would be someone who is “unbribable” and can steer the organisation in the right direction.
“Integrity is the most important and I am looking for intelligence and impartiality. I don’t give orders to the Commissioner of Police but I want somebody who is unbribable. I want somebody who is intelligent and want somebody who is committed to carrying out the programme of security sector reform, who has the initiative and who can generate public trust. If I put somebody there who is not trustworthy… the public would laugh,” he told reporters, when asked about some of the qualities he is looking for.