The Guyana Police Force said senior officers had expressed concern at a management team meeting last Wednesday about statements made by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee at a recent Community Policing Workshop, but that the matter has now been resolved.
A statement from the police yesterday did not detail the remarks made by Rohee that had caused disquiet, but the minister in his own statement last evening explained his use of the phrase `kick ass’ at the meeting in question.
The police statement said the senior officers had expressed concern about what they considered to be “inappropriate statements” made by the minister.
“The force administration subsequently discussed these concerns with higher government authorities and is satisfied with the response given and actions taken in the matter,” the statement said.
“The Guyana Police Force wishes to make it clear that the force has no ongoing issue with the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs in relation to the statements made and considers the matter closed.” The statement sought to reassure the public that the police will continue working towards fulfilling its mission, in cooperation with the state, the society and citizens of Guyana, to provide service and protection by preventing and detecting crime, maintaining law and order, controlling traffic, safeguarding property and preserving the peace.
Rohee, clearing the air on the issue last evening, accused the Kaieteur News of making mischief once again and embarking on a ploy aimed at driving a wedge between the ministry and force.
Rohee clarified that at a meeting with senior representatives of the force and the Community Policing organization, he said it was frustrating to learn from time to time about the unprofessional and disdainful manner with which members of Community Policing Groups are treated at some police stations.
He said he reminded them that senior officers have consistently declared that they were in favour of government’s policy in respect to the role and place of Community Policing as an integral part of crime fighting. As such, he said, the treatment meted out to members of the Community Policing Groups was unacceptable.
“I went on to speak about my role as a politician and Minister of Home Affairs to represent the interests of the Guyanese people. I pointed out that I know that because of the positions I adopted as a minister of government since 1992, there are people out there who are waiting to kick my ass and that I intend to kick ass knowing this to be the case,” the minister said.
“As would be read by any reasonable person, the statement was directed at the critics (`people out there’) of government’s policies on security and public order. The statement was not particularlized to the Guyana Police Force in no way whatsoever as the Kaieteur News sought to mischievously make out. `People out there’ is quite different and not the same as ranks of the Guyana Police Force.
“… I strongly deny any assertion or allegation that I used threats against any police officer or members of the force on the day in question or on any other occasion. “While it is true that I may have had differences of opinion with the police from time to time, those matters have always been resolved amicably with the interest of this country being uppermost in our minds.”
Rohee said his ministry remains committed to working with the police to keep the safety and security of the citizens of Guyana at the highest level possible. Rohee has also attracted ire over his instruction to Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell to discipline Assistant Commander David Ramnarine over statements that the latter had made to the press over $90M that was to be allocated to the police force for the elections period. Critics have said that Rohee is interfering in the police’s work by giving instructions that he has no authority to issue.
