`B’ Division Commander Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph has been appointed by the David Granger administration to head the Presidential Guard Unit, according to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Joe Harmon who said yesterday that the promotion will be enacted immediately.
Stabroek News was told that Joseph was informed of the promotion during a meeting with government officials inclusive of the new president. Joseph’s promotion, is part of a security overhaul, which is expected to see changes in the command of the seven police divisions and possibly some promotions.
In 2011, Joseph, who was then Divisional Commander of ‘G’ Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands), was shifted to command ‘D’ Division (West Demerara). In 2012, he was named the Force’s Traffic Officer (Traffic Chief), following which in 2013 he was named Divisional Commander of `B’ Division.
Harmon was unable to say what would become of former head of the Presidential Guard Rohan Singh and the other ranks who were under his command. He said the persons who will be doing the selection of the ranks to make up the unit will “determine who is retained and who in not.” Those ranks who are not retained will be returned to the GPF.
Singh and his unit came into the public eye when a presidential guard was accused of slapping school teacher John Adams after he heckled former president Donald Ramotar at a December 3, 2014 meeting at Aishalton, South Rupununi.
Singh had told this newspaper that the incident was fabricated. In a letter, Singh had stated that the assault never occurred and further claimed that Adams was drunk. Singh said too that when interviewed the officer and ranks denied having any knowledge of Adams’ allegations and only that they moved closer to an individual in the crowd who appeared drunk.
In the letter, he had criticized Stabroek News’ report on Adams’ allegation, saying it was for sensational purposes. He said too that Adams was an A Partnership for National Unity activist and that he was too drunk to remember who assaulted him—if indeed he was.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after reviewing a police file subsequently advised the police against charging the presidential guard who had been implicated.
