Police officers will be investigated upon complaints

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan (left) at the 13th National Toshaos Conference, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre last week (Department of Public Information photo)

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Thursday, vowed to investigate allegations, made by indigenous leaders that police officers stationed at hinterland locations have been molesting residents of those communities in addition to behaving unprofessionally.

During the 13th National Toshaos Conference, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre last week, indigenous leaders took the opportunity to voice their concerns with  the Minister of Public Security along with Deputy Police Commissioner, Paul Williams, regarding the misconduct of police officers stationed in their communities.

Sherry Balkarran, a member of the North Pakaraima District Council, told the minister that some police officers have no regard for the law or the rules and regulations of the village council and are molesting the girls in the area. She said she is not satisfied with how the officers are punished after complaints have been leveled against them and asked for those police officers to be treated the same way an indigenous person who is accused of rape or sexual assault is treated.