A meeting yesterday between President Donald Ramotar and Opposition Leader David Granger on the appointment of a substantive Police Commissioner ended without agreement on a candidate and sources say the acting Top Cop, Leroy Brumell will continue in the post and he and Crime Chief Seelall Persaud have been elevated to the post of Deputy Commissioner.
Brumell has been acting in the capacity of Police Commissioner since the Henry Greene rape scandal surfaced late last year while Persaud is the Crime Chief. Prior to yesterday they were both Assistant Commissioners.
Sources last evening told Stabroek News that at the meeting, held at Office of the President, Granger named Brumell as the opposition’s choice while Persaud was named as the government’s nominee by President Ramotar.
Stabroek News was told that the opposition was looking for the qualified and more experienced Brumell to be confirmed to the post but instead was shocked when Persaud’s name was announced by the President. The present acting commissioner, who is more senior in rank currently, has 35-plus years in the force and has worked in all divisions of the GPF.
Granger, when contacted by Stabroek News, remained tightlipped on the discussions and would only say that it is objective of the opposition “to correct the instability of the [Guyana Police Force] and boost morale and performance.”
Discussions between government and the opposition on appointing a substantive Commissioner of Police will continue but it is unclear how soon a decision will be made on an appointment.
Under the constitution, the Commissioner and every Deputy is appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Chairperson of the Police Service Commission. This is also required for acting appointments. Brumell was named to the post of acting commissioner without any consultations by the President with Granger.
