-Police Association urges members
Members of the police force are being urged to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities, while avoiding any violations of the human rights of citizens.
This is the message of the Executive of Guyana Police Association—a body that represents ranks from constable to chief inspector.
“The necessary objective, priority, and overriding principles of its members are to safeguard freedom, protect life and property, and protect the constitutional rights of citizens, while maintaining respect for the rule of law and performing their duties with professionalism,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement came the same day that a police constable, Terrence Wallace, was charged with the murder of teenager Shaquille Grant, who was fatally shot by uniformed policemen in Agricola on September 11. Arrest warrants have been issued for two other policemen, Special Constable Jamal Lewis and Lance Corporal Warren Blue, who are also accused of Grant’s murder.
The Association’s message also comes as an inquiry, looking at the actions of police in Linden on July 18, when three residents were killed and others wounded, is ongoing.
The use of force in police operations will always remain a contentious issue, the Association said, but it added that ranks do not, as a primary objective, seek to use force against citizens, even in the face of hostilities and provocation.
Instead, it noted, police ranks are constrained and guided by Standing Orders as well as the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 34/169 of December 17, 1979. The Guyana Police Force Standing Order #73 Section 57 states that it is absolutely essential that all ranks should school themselves to exercise forbearance, restraint and complete self control even under the most trying and provoking circumstances. Article 3 of the Code of Conduct, meanwhile, states that law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.
The Association also said the police force is conducting programmes that aim to foster a more professional attitude by ranks and which focus on areas such as conflict resolution, anger management, emotional intelligence and self esteem, effectively dealing with people, policing a multi-cultural and diverse society and stress management. These programmes are being done with assistance from the Enhanced Public Trust, Security and Inclusion Project and the Citizens Security Programme funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). They are designed to act as a catalyst of change in the conduct, behaviour and attitude of ranks, it added.
“The Police Association at this juncture wishes to encourage its members that when carrying out their duties in relation to the maintenance of law and order, they must do so to the best of their capability while preventing any violations of the human rights of citizens,” it added.
In addition, the Association also extended condolences to the bereaved relatives of the three Lindeners who died during the protest in Linden on July 18, Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis, as well as Grant.
It also said it laments the death of Detective Constable 20682 Jirbahan Dianand, who it said was killed in the line of duty, while it wished for speedy recoveries for Corporal 19364 Jomo Williams and Constable 21330 Kevin George, who were both seriously injured earlier in the year in separate accidents while on duty in the ‘D’ and ‘E &F’ divisions, respectively.
