I suspect that it’s because “hope springs eternal (in the human breast/spirit”) that I return to the issue of the status, role and effectiveness of our Guyana Police Force or Service. I have long tired regarding same but I’ll be mostly positive today.
I was attracted to the articulation of a former crime chief, officer James. Then he just disappeared off the police radar. Now I’m impressed and hopeful at the sound of current acting Commissioner David Ramnarine., Hence today’s contribution, even as I recognize that it is not the sound or looks of the police service’s top personnel which matter, but their effective deliverables toward preventing and solving crime.
I’m somewhat versed in the history of our GPF. It became a respected national institution, even as a colonial instrument of control with its European enforcers, from the immediate post-Emancipation period onwards. It is still fascinating to read about the roles of the expatriate commissioners and the legacies they bequeathed to the locals. Not unlike the judiciary and army, even the public service, for example.
The force became as local as it could become under the Burnham regimes, transformed under good Guyanese commissioners, albeit utilized for some extra-judicial purposes under the autocratic founder leader. Emasculated by the politicians from around 2000, inclusive of the seven-year jailbreak crime spree period, the GPF struggled to perform.
The President is now a military-trained and oriented Commander-in-Chief. I know that the current police hierarchy is quite cognizant of this status. So is there to be a new orientation? Out of decades of political manipulation, internal corruption and cancerous indiscipline? It seems to be an “encouraging” future. But…
Outreaches – Pre-emptive, preventative
Late top cop Laurie Leyland Lewis initiated a pet “outreach” to the youth of the depressed Georgetown enclave that was Tiger Bay. It became a type of prototype for numerous attempts that were to follow.
Now, Frankly Speaking, it is not Police Forces’ primary role to court communities or launch public assistance initiatives. However, the prevention of the causes of criminal behaviour could lessen the incidence of such. Other public and non-government agencies and organisations are often trained and equipped to offer such desirable orientation amongst vulnerable youth, even adult offenders. However, we are now witnessing these numerous community “outreaches” by the force’s divisional commanders. Hence my following observations.
Yes, it is always useful to launch and maintain educational and sporting sessions with the community but most of the time this is like preaching to the converted. The good, poor but well-behaved youth are most likely to remain so. So I suggest commanders, identify and target potential problems – such as school drop-outs, teenagers of the famed single-parents, some female single-parents themselves, newly-released convicts and known characters from the gullies, ghettoes, roadside and pool-table bars. Too much for the over-worked ranks? Okay, rope in your better, professional community policing group members!
My regular recommendation: the village or district stations must have profiles of their communities – a station (digital?) map showing the village cemetery, popular alleyways, getaways, escape routes to the back-lands, business-place locations etc. etc. What’s difficult about that? Response time still problematic? Community policing members scared to lend transportation? Think about how to overcome the above.
Years ago, upon request, I produced a most useful, persuasive publication titled “Careers against crime”. It chronicled and advertised the numerous and varied categories of employment the police force offers. I’ll be happy to produce one again.
This acting commissioner, like Paul Slowe once did, stood his ground against unprofessional political intrusion. I wonder if he’s the man to get maximum support to turn our police force around?
Apologies and honour
Put in the simple context, apologies are expressions of regret after some wrong was committed. One who apologises might even be actually penitent when saying sorry, sometimes with a promise not to repeat a wrong-doing.
Years ago Dr Cheddi Jagan was called upon to apologise for his remarks about “black people”. Long after the demands President Cheddi reluctantly expressed his “regrets” at what and how his remarks were interpreted. In fact, it was a compromised apology, but one just the same.
Persons called upon to apologise sometimes feel constrained to explain how and why they erred. Is that necessary? Frankly Speaking to me apologies from high-profile figures are cheap and cheapened. Commit a sin, say “sorry” and request understanding and forgiveness. Too often the “apologiser” is not genuine nor really penitent. (As a proverbs man, the folkloric observation comes to mind: “Since beg-pardon come in, lil bhai mash big man toe”). So public or personal, apologies are now in fashion. (And oh! I’m sorry, I apologise if I’ve offended.)
In the British parliamentary tradition, members of our parliament are all deemed honourable members. Give me a break! Honour – in or out of the National Assembly – has to do with good moralistic character, strong principled integrity. Now profile our current honourable assembly persons. What was/is their background? Reputation and track record? Name 40 of your favourite honourable MP’s. Tough?
Ponder well…
.1) What the dickens does Lincoln Lewis mean in his letter, that “this matter has now moved to the level where ‘gift-taking’ is allegedly driving decision-making at ministerial level”?
.2) Who represents public service pensioners?
.3) Is Raphael still in the AFC?
.4) Convert the old National Co-op Bank building into a modern vendors arcade – two-storyed!
’Til next week!
