We are ready! Top Cop says Force is fully prepared to deal with elections-related disturbances

Newly sworn-in Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was preparing and would be prepared for the worst case scenario during the upcoming Guyana General and Regional Elections scheduled to be held on May 11.

Speaking to the media last Thursday, Persaud noted that the Force would not be taking anything for granted during this season and would be prepared for any situation which may arise. “That we are preparing for our worst case situation way beyond what we are expecting to happen,” Persaud said.

When questioned on what would be the possible worst case scenario, he noted that this would be “the complete breakdown of law and order in the country”.  The Commissioner  added that the GPF has been preparing for elections since the prorogation of Parliament in November so that his ranks could understand clearly what public order was all about.

“We started retraining them on public order issues, on elections campaign issues, and so on, so our ranks can have an understanding of what the law is, what they are required to do, what their role is when they get on the ground,” he noted.

He went on to state that the water cannon, which was given to the Force by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for the purpose of maintaining public order,   was up and functioning and “ready to be used” should the need arise during this period.

Crime Chief Leslie James, who is also serving as Assistant Commissioner of Police, had related to this publication that every political party should cooperate and support the GPF in fulfilling its mandate so that a peaceful elections process is achieved for the benefit of all of Guyanese.

Peace and stability

President Donald Ramotar had, during the announcement of the date for elections, noted that he was hoping and expecting that all stakeholders would ensure peace and stability. “I will expect the political parties, the security services and the people of Guyana to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure continued peace and stability before, during and after the elections. We have a collective obligation, every Guyanese, to ensure the protection of the democratic gains we have made and for which we have endured so much as a nation to secure,” Ramotar stated.