President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that he is currently considering extending the term of Police Commis-sioner Henry Greene, and that it has not been confirmed contrary to a recent report in the Kaieteur News.
When asked at a press conference whether the Commissioner of Police had been granted a three-year extension to his term, Jagdeo said “I don’t know about that, and I’m the only one who can give the extension.”
He, however, said that he is currently considering extending the term of the Commissioner.
Kaieteur News, in its April 8 edition, carried an article captioned “Greene gets three-year extension as Top Cop”, which stated that Greene’s extension had been confirmed by “well placed sources”. The Commissioner reached the retirement age of 55 last Monday.
When Jagdeo was asked last month whether he was considering extending the Commissioner’s term, he said that “no decision” had been made as yet and that an announcement would be made at an appropriate time.
On December 31 last year, Greene was confirmed as substantive Police Commis-sioner after serving in an acting capacity for nearly two years.
At the time of the appointment as Acting Commis-sioner, there had been concerns about Greene’s appointment, in light of both his age as well as allegations made by the United States that he had benefited materially from the drugs trade. It was on this basis in 2006 that the US revoked Greene’s diplomatic visa and a visitor’s visa as well.
However, Greene categorically denied the allegations and he stood by his initial statement on the issue at his confirmation. “I have never been involved in any drug activity with any drug lord and I maintain that position onto this day,” he said.
