Two days after saying that he would ask the Police Commissioner for an update on the findings of the audit of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday disclosed that he had not received any new information.
“…That remains the position as I haven’t been given any information other than that, is that the [audit] officers have asked for further statements to be taken and that, I think, is what is being done now,” Ramjattan said, while adding that this is in keeping with what was recommended after legal advice was sought.
He was responding to questions from the media following the launch of the National Action Plan for the prevention and response to Trafficking in Persons, 2019-2020.
Stabroek News gathered subsequently that on May 15th, the Guyana Police Force’s Audit Department was instructed to take the additional statements, after the report was reviewed by the police legal advisor, retired Justice Claudette Singh. The report, which contained damning findings, reached the desk of Justice Singh that same day. Almost one month has passed since this instruction was given and the report has not been returned to Justice Singh.
Many have raised concerns about the seeming sloth in the handling of the findings of the audit and they have stressed that the recommendations ought to have been implemented, so that a strong message can be sent to those who are engaged in wrongdoing.
It was Police Commissioner Leslie James who initiated the audit in February following claims of grave mismanagement, including the spending of the operational fund. That audit, which covered the last three years, was completed sometime in April and the final report, which included damning findings and listed more than a dozen recommendations including the immediate transfer of the unit’s head Sydney James and his secretary Kevin Haywood, was submitted to the commissioner. According to information gleaned by Stabroek News, the Audit Department, during its investigation, uncovered serious irregularities, including the falsification of records. The auditors found invoices from several business places that were duplicated or tampered with, fraudulent double entries, and false entries.
Aside from the transfers, fraud investigations into several of the irregularities were recommended.
Stabroek News was previously told that the SOCU’s head’s contract expires later this year and it is unlikely to be renewed. It appears as though those in authority want to wait out this period. However, sources say that this will be “a slap in the face” as the auditor made serious conclusions.
Observers have questioned the inaction of the Commissioner and warned that this could further damage SOCU’s credibility. The unit was established in 2014 under the former government in keeping with the country anti-money laundering and terrorist financing efforts.
There have also been suggests that Ramjattan as the subject minister ought to step in and take action. He had previously said that James is the one who ought to be taking action. He reiterated this position on Wednesday, while adding that he doesn’t believe there should be more direct reporting to him.
The minister told reporters that operational matters are for the police to deal with and added that “If I am to know all the facts about a rape allegation, I will be muddled every day. …there are certain crimes being committed and I don’t have to be the one that knows the inside information ….it’s going to be difficult. Hundreds and hundreds of cases at the end of a month…You want the minister to be briefed on all these cases?”
He noted that it is his responsibility to ensure that the policy in relation to those operational matters are in place and being adhered to. “How they are handling it is what I should know best. Once these things happen, the policy is investigate them thoroughly and if any policeman ….has to be charged charge him,” he said, before adding that there is a zero tolerance, no nonsense approach to unlawful acts on the part of ranks.
“That is the only clear way we can get rid of the rogue elements in our police force and get rid of all these negative things and have a better and safer security system,” he added.
