Deputy Superintendent Motie Dookie, the former head of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit who was implicated in the smuggling of 30 cases of whisky, has been charged departmentally, according to Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Paul Slowe, who hopes that the matter can reach a conclusion in the next few weeks.
Slowe, when contacted by Stabroek News, said that Dookie’s matter has engaged the attention of the Commission and that the rank, who is still within the employ of the Guyana Police Force, has been charged departmentally. He further said that the matter will now have to go through a process, which includes a trial. “I am not sure [how long it will take] but we are trying to get it done as quickly as possible,” he said.
Dookie was travelling in a minibus along the Whim Public Road, Corentyne, on December 30th, last year when it was stopped by a police anti-crime patrol and the 30 cases of whisky were found aboard.
At the time, Dookie and the driver of the minibus were the only occupants of the vehicle. The police have said that the Dookie indicated that 10 cases of whisky were in the minibus and they were to be used for a party. However, a search of the minibus revealed the 30 cases, which were all seized.
At the time of the interception, Dookie should have been on duty in the city. Dookie avoided criminal charges after the driver of the minibus took full responsibility for the contraband.
Dookie has been charged under the Police (Discipline) Act.
Aside from a fine not exceeding ten days pay, the Act allows for admonition, a reprimand, a severe reprimand, the award of extra duties and fatigue not exceeding four hours in every 24 hours, confinement to barracks for any period not exceeding 28 days with or without drill, reduction in rank and dismissal from the force. These forms of punishment are delegated by the Commission and are subject “to such conditions as it thinks fit.”
The PSC has the power under the Constitution to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding the rank of Inspector and up.
Dookie was sent on “Special Leave in the Public Interest” in May. He mounted a legal challenge and won. In September, Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln, who heard Dookie’s application for relief, granted him a writ of certiorari, quashing then acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine’s decision, which she declared unlawful.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has publicly said that Dookie should be dismissed from the force for misconduct. “…We cannot have rogue elements like him in the force… elements like him do damage to the force,” he had told Stabroek News.
