Dear Editor,
All four daily newspapers in their Wednesday, August 9, 2017 editions carried articles on President David Granger’s request for the Police Service Commission to put on hold police officers’ promotions. Each news agency conveyed a different headline: Kaieteur News screamed, ‘President orders police promotions halted -Opposition says commission’s independence trampled’; Stabroek News yelled, ‘Gov’t flayed over instruction to service commission on police promotions’; Guyana Times cried, ‘Granger directs PSU to halt Police promotions’; while Guyana Chronicle posited, ‘Promotion of police officers put on hold …life of service commission ends soon.’
Let me be pellucid: I hold no brief for the President or the Government of Guyana on the issue. I have no political ambition neither do I seek public office. However, I have an abiding interest in law enforcement, more so, the Guyana Police Force. I want the police to act professionally at all times and to deliver the highest quality of service to the citizens of Guyana they swore to serve and protect, hence my letters to the press.
Here is my take on the vexed issue in question. The conduct of many senior and junior offers of the GPF is being questioned at the Commission of Inquiry been conducted by Paul Slowe, retired assistant commissioner of police. These officers have been highly recommended to the Police Service Commission for promotions. What if the PSC goes ahead now and promotes them and the CoI finds any of them guilty of misconduct? On the other hand, why not wait a short while until the CoI completes it work. Certainly, if the CoI clears the officers of any misconduct they will be promoted. That will be well within the ambit of justice and fair play for all. It is only a matter of time.
I agree with the action of the President. It is a giant step in the right direction. Let there be many more swift, certain and appropriate actions by President Granger.
Yours faithfully,
Clinton Conway
Assistant Commissioner of Police
(Retired)
