Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell yesterday said that the police would have to stand by the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the events of July 18, 2012 at Linden which found the police responsible for the deaths of three protesters.
“I haven’t seen it yet but I have heard of it,” Brumell told Stabroek News yesterday when contacted for a reaction to the report which was presented to President Donald Ramotar on Thursday. “But whatever the report says, we have to stand by it,” he added. Among its findings, the COI had recommended a complete management audit for the Guyana Police Force citing too much centralization of decision making and “anachronistic” procedures.
“We recommend very strongly that a complete management audit of the Guyana Police Force be carried out so that there can be a comprehensive assessment of what is needed to modernize the organization. If this is done it could signal a break from practices which are inimical to proper policing and endorse those which are consonant with international best practices,” the report said.
It had stated that during the inquiry, indications were given from time to time related to “probable deficiencies” of the police force in its strength and establishment, its forensic capabilities, the recruit training curriculum including that related to human rights, human relations and firearms and the use of police personnel to perform duties which civilians seem more suited to carry out. The report cited too the intelligence capacity and investigative proficiency, the internal and external accountability, service delivery and resources.
The report had also cited Brumell for being a remote participant giving instructions during the events of July 18. “Having regard to the way things were going and the potential for great danger to life, limb and property his on the spot presence before nightfall could have made a great difference,” it had said.
Meantime, President Donald Ramotar has said that the COI report’s exoneration of Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee from any misdemeanour is proof of the arguments advanced in favour of his integrity, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
“He (Minister Rohee) never acted in any way to bring his ministry, the government or our country in any disrepute. That was to me very important…all the problems and all the issues that were made…all the things happening in the parliament and the court has shown that we were on the side of defending the rule of law and defending our constitution and defending our parliament,” the President was quoted as saying.
GINA reported that the government intends to make a full statement on the COI report.
