–as opposition denounces ‘political’ remarks
Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell yesterday insisted that his support of Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in no way compromises the independence and impartiality of the police force, even as opposition leaders slammed his statement as being political and out of order.
It was suggested to Brumell yesterday that his remarks in favour of the minister, who has received a vote of no-confidence from Parliament, painted him as partial, or at least sympathetic to the minister’s situation.
He responded: “If you are working in an organisation and you have a boss, would you not support your boss? Well that is what I was doing, supporting my boss.” He insisted that his statements were not political neither is he nor the Guyana Police Force (GPF) by extension.
But leaders of the opposition parties have chided Brumell for his remarks, saying that as a professional, his statements were “out of order.”
Leader of the Opposition and of APNU David Granger is of the opinion that Brumell should be sanctioned, while AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan said the commissioner should concentrate on ensuring that crimes are solved, warning that such “political” statements could see the public losing trust in Brumell.
On Wednesday, Brumell, during his address at the re-commissioning of the Cove and John Police Station, declared that the GPF was in full support of Rohee, who is facing scrutiny from the opposition and the public. “The force is behind you with whatever you do. Many of us who had different views… Externally, people can make comments but you have to be internal to know what it is… Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Brumell had said.
“The commissioner is completely out of order in making these remarks,” Granger said yesterday when contacted. He said the acting commissioner is a professional but “his remarks go beyond the bounds of professionalism,” particularly since the matter is before the National Assembly. “It’s uncalled for,” Granger said adding that this is giving political support to an embattled minister.
“He should be sanctioned by the president,” Granger declared while emphasising that this does not mean that Brumell should be removed from his post. “He should be told his remarks are out of order,” he said.
Meantime, Ramjattan asserted that instead of making these statements about the political directorate, which he said was probably to be confirmed as substantive commissioner, Brumell “should proceed to earn this by bringing down the crime rate.
“That is a far superior way than to mouth political platitudes to get his confirmation.”
Ramjattan added that Brumell should be urging his officers to solve and successfully prosecute crimes. “That is what at this stage he should be supporting,” he said.
Ramjattan also warned that Brumell’s statements can have other implications. It can be perceived by the public that he is toeing a correct political line to be confirmed as substantive commissioner and it is not a good thing for governance practices, he said. The AFC leader asserted that the acting commissioner should make mature, sensible comments otherwise people “can get distrusting of him.
“It is creating a kind of scenario… that can put him in some jeopardy later on. He must not unduly suck up to the minister of home affairs and especially at a public level like that.”
The AFC leader also said that the comments could be “construed in [the] context of the pressure that Rohee puts on the Guyana Police Force,” adding that it was a statement made “to satisfy the ego of Rohee.”
However, as a professional who is supposed to be impartial, Brumell should “abso-lutely not” make such remarks, Ramjattan said.
