‘Rogue’ cops are not sent to interior locations

Dear Editor,

Cognisant of an article published earlier this week in another newspaper under the headline, “Stop sending rogue cops to interior locations – GWMO” [Guyana Women Miners Organisation], the Guyana Police Force observes with concern the efforts by Simona Broomes, President of the GWMO, appealing for resources by using the distasteful strategy of telling lies on the Police.

It is totally untrue that “most Police ranks operating in remote locations are those that have been involved in something or the other that is not in keeping with the lawful expectations of a cop”, as stated in the article.

The Guyana Police Force over the years has a number of ranks who were disciplined, some of whom were interdicted from duty and reinstated based on the outcome of a criminal charge.

For example, in 2014 a total of 750 ranks were disciplined in the Police Force. These ranks are continuing as members of the Force and have to perform duties at some Police location, and at the moment they are performing duties in every Division and Department within the Police Force.

The policy of the Police Force is to transfer ranks who have committed breaches of discipline and are allowed to continue in the employment in the Force to locations where they could be properly supervised, and therefore, during 2014, no such person was transferred to remote areas.

We are aware that the level of supervision in the interior is not the same as on the coastland in view of the challenges with transportation and communication.

Conscious of the significant development that is being undertaken in the interior locations, the Guyana Police Force has been making every effort to ensure that its policing strategies are effective and that compatible ranks are transferred for duty in those remote areas.

The Guyana Police Force has trained 63 ranks of ‘F’ Division (Interior Locations), including all the Sub-Divisional Officers and ranks in charge of stations, in Trafficking in Persons, the Sexual Offences Act, the Mining Act, the Forestry Act, the Environmental Protection Act, Domestic Violence, and the Protection of Children Act in order to build their capacity to operate in the Division.

In addition, another 13 ranks from Police Headquarters, including Policewomen, who are conducting roving patrols in partnership with Officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), have received similar training.

The Guyana Police Force, also in 2014, held a Stakeholders’ Consultation Forum where individuals, including Simona Broomes who represented the GWMO, Government and Non-Government and Private Sector organizations, were represented, to develop the plan to police the interior that the Guyana Police Force is now implementing.

The plan is being implemented in partnership with many of the stakeholders inclusive of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA).

Ivelaw Whittaker

Police Public Relations

and Press Officer