Former Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud has decried the conduct of law enforcers this week at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and urged members of the Guyana Police Force to maintain professionalism in executing their duties.
Persaud made his appeal in an open letter he addressed to the force which was disseminated yesterday.
“As I make this appeal to you, I would like you to know that I am not a member of any political party. My service in the Guyana Police Force for over thirty three years has been nothing but professional and during that time I strived to uphold and maintain the highest values and standards of a professional Police Force which includes staying away from political activism and sentiments,” he said.
Persaud noted that the public rely on the police for protection and they should not be failed despite the circumstances. “My thinking and experiences tells me that anti- democratic action of a few in our society cannot bear fruit without support of the Police. Let us not throw our honor to the dogs. Let not the necessity of Public Protection against deviance be submerged by outflows of sentimentality,” he said.
He added that the county is currently at “the edge of a precipice”.
Persaud made reference to two incidents which took place during the electoral process and reminded the police that it is important for them to keep in mind the people’s right while carrying out their duties.
“Another step in the direction it was moving since on or about March 3rd 2020 (at the GECOM Region 4 RO’s (Return-ing Officer’s office in particular)….. The situation in our country is grave and, as we are aware, political efforts to bring us through have failed over and over. It is left to the Police to give life and meaning to the enjoyment of civil rights by the law abiding members of our society. So it is crucial that you do not act as you did at the Region 4 RO’s Office and the Arthur Chung Convention Centre when you evicted people who had a legal right to be there and who were advancing the protection of Constitutional Rights of the Guyanese People,” he said.
In the latter case, he said the police force loses its professionalism, independence and control and the people that suffer include their relatives, friends and themselves.
“Please note that should your actions at the two places I mentioned continue, you will find yourselves separated from the community. Such separation will create social distance that will increase the extent to which the Force could be controlled and the extent to which the Police are seen as visible symbols of the government and targeted as such,” he said.
Persaud told the ranks that society takes note of the “selective” deployment of ranks in the Force as well as the use of excessive force by them.
He further warned about the international sanctions the country is on the verge of facing while citing the consequences followed.
“…..It will cause us to fall over into unimaginable consequences from our own society and the International Community. Consequences that will not only manifest into hardship and suffering for us but also for our children, elder and younger relatives and our relatives of the future. Everything in my heart tells me that the people that socialize in what was a home for me for thirty- three years do not want this to happen. Unfortunately, we cannot wish it away,” he said.
The former top cop pleaded with the force to not forget that every government needs a rigorous Police Force to protect the rights of its citizens. “
“However, let us understand that in a free regime the Police are employed against the minority opposed to the general good as well as against abuse and negligence of the authorities. On the other hand, in a tyrannical regime, the Police are employed against ordinary and law abiding people who are delivered into the hands of injustice and impunity,” he noted.
He further appealed to the police to take professional action in an effort to save the country from the “few dissidents”.
“I am also aware that our learning and experiences gave us the understanding of the nature of human suffering as well as the understanding of the moral contradiction of achieving just ends with coercive means. I appeal to you to use those understandings in giving instructions and taking action. The society you served had never been so heavily dependent on you in contemporary times. Be our heroes,” he said.
