With the extension of his tenure in office, Police Commissioner Henry Greene continues to earn a statutory salary, but PNCR-1G MP Deborah Backer said this is in violation of the constitution, which no longer recognises the office as a statutory one.
Since Greene attained the age of retirement he was no longer entitled to a statutory salary, Backer argued in the National Assembly yesterday as consideration of the 2011 Budget Estimates continued and she called on the Home Affairs Minister to address the issue. The budgetary allocation set aside for the commissioner’s statutory wage is $6.2 million.
Minister Clement Rohee said the issue was out of his hands. “I am very much aware of that and I think it rests with the President to determine whether the person holding the office should have an extension of tenure,” he said.
Backer, not satisfied, pressed the minister on the issue, stating that the constitution is clear as regards the age of retirement and statutory positions. “Is the honorable member saying that his Excellency the President has the authority to by-pass the constitution? Is that what you’re saying minister?” she asked. Rohee responded: “I know better than to say something like that.”
Backer, still not comfortable with his answer pressed on. “Well then what are you saying, help us.” Her opposition colleagues were full in support, calling on Rohee to clarify his statements.
A persistent Backer then suggested that the commissioner be offered a contracted position to which Rohee said he has no authority over who is contracted or not and that this falls under the Finance Ministry. “If the honorable member is saying that the Commissioner of Police is being illegally paid then that point should be made elsewhere,” he charged.
But Backer kept pursuing the issue, saying that as the subject minister he could at least undertake to follow-up on the issue with the Finance Minister, who was not present in the House at the time of the exchange. A silence fell on the room after Backer made the suggestion, prompting her to ask whether Rohee was going to respond to her suggestion.
“I don’t think the minister is conceding there is a problem,” Speaker of the House Ralph Ramkarran said and Backer eventually moved on from the issue. With Rohee’s ministry under review, Backer also queried the allocations for fuel and lubricants, which have been set at $320 million this year. The revised provision last year was $203.3 million. She raised the issue in the light of concerns outlined in the Auditor General’s (AG) 2009 report regarding the overpayment for fuel in the police force. The AG has referred to the issue as a recurring problem.
Reading from the report, Backer said the overpayments totalled $15.8 million in 2009, and she questioned whether the Home Affairs Minister is satisfied with the systems currently in place to avoid “any leakage of money, not fuel”.
Rohee said he was not aware of that section of the report. He explained that fuel prices increased twice during the year under review, in addition to new vehicles being purchased for the force. He said too that systems are in place with respect to cash purchases for fuel within the force and that there is constant monitoring. “I haven’t seen what the honorable member is referring to in the Auditor General report so I am not in a position to reply to that specifically,” he said to cries of “What?!” from the opposition benches.
Backer shot back that the issue was highlighted on page 107 of the report and she read the recommendation: “The Audit Office recommends that the GPF takes action to introduce measures of strict control over acquisition of fuel.”
With respect to the authorized strength of the force, Backer questioned by what percentage it is understaffed and Rohee pointed out that while the established strength is 4,220 ranks only 3,845 are currently on staff, adding that the force was short by roughly 10 per cent.
Backer, who is the shadow Home Affairs Minister, also raised questions regarding provisions for training including scholarships, focusing initially on the police force and later the Guyana Fire Service. She asked whether any police officer has been trained to function in the forensic lab when it is operational.
Rohee simply said, “No.” However, he said the ministry has conducted some studies with respect to staffing the lab.
In addition, Backer questioned whether any firefighters are currently pursuing scholarships to enhance the quality of service offered. Rohee said there are no current scholarship recipients and according to him a few persons benefited from training in French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago last year.
Further, the PNCR-1G MP also grilled Rohee on whether any money has been budgeted for a remand centre for girls under the age of 18 years.
Rohee responded “not necessarily”. Again, Backer was not satisfied. She pressed on as to whether any provisions have been made to accommodate young girls.
To this, Rohee said the juvenile training centre at Sophia is nearing completion, while adding that it will serve as a holding facility for boys and girls aged 14 years and older. “That’s very commendable but can I ask what will happen to those girls under 14 like the one in the paper who was wandering?” Backer asked. According to Rohee, his ministry has no responsibility over girls that young and he pointed out that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security already has a place for young girls.
