Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said the police force must pay closer attention to its recruitment procedures and screening practices so as to ensure that perverts are not allowed into the organisation.
His comment came via a statement in which he expressed disgust at the damning allegation that three ranks sodomised a teenage boy at the Stabroek Market Police Outpost. The accused ranks have been placed under close arrest.
Rohee said if found guilty, such ranks should be weeded out of the force as they are not worthy of wearing the organisation’s uniform. He said he is awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the allegation.
Alarming
“It is most alarming to note that in the wake of an ongoing allegation of sexual assault, yet to be determined, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), while it struggles to regain public confidence… finds itself further embattled due to this alleged despicable act.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs stands ready at all times to assist the Guyana Police Force in surmounting its challenges, but wishes to strongly advise the force to come to grips with its administrative and operational deficiencies, and to embrace fully the current effort at reforms in the best interest of the force, in particular, and the people of Guyana, in general.”
Fearful
The Alliance For Change (AFC), for its part, said it was the umpteenth complaint against the police and at the same time, serious crime is on the increase. “This is an untenable situation for the citizens and ought not to be allowed to continue. But, at the end of the day, security is the responsibility of the government and where it is found that the security force is turning criminal and not doing the job they have sworn to do, this becomes a reflection of the will of their political bosses. The buck stops with the government,” the AFC said.
According to the party, it has repeatedly called on the government to professionalise the police force and “we have made specific recommendations in this regard, but these, like the Disciplined Forces Report, the Symmons’ and other reports and recommendations, have been tossed out by the government.”
In addition, the AFC said it supported the motion of no confidence brought against Minister Rohee yet the president stuck with him, “while the citizens of this country suffer and continue to live in fear”. The party said now citizens fear not only the criminals roaming our villages and towns but those hiding behind the uniform of the police force.
It noted that the recent incident on the Corentyne resulted in ranks from the Number 51 Police Station being removed. “It seems there will be no stern disciplinary action, no independent investigation to determine the level of ranks in criminal activities. Rather, these ranks have been transferred to other villages and towns where they can continue with whatever nefarious activities they were engaged in. Another village or town will now have to suffer. Is there any citizen who would feel comfortable knowing that rogue officers, who may be engaged in criminal activities, are in their community? How does this lend to building confidence in the police force?”
Safe state
The minority opposition party said it was clear that the government had no intention of acting decisively to clean up the force. “They have failed to provide a safe state for the citizens of this country and this is forcing many of our citizens to leave this country, it is scaring away investors and costing businesses and private citizens millions every year to pay for protection the government ought to be providing.”
