Amid questions that have been raised about her qualifications, the acting head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Superintendent of Police Althea Padmore says her attorney will be responding on this matter.
Padmore has said that she graduated from the Ashworth College in 2015 after obtaining a Masters of Science Degree in Business Administration with Honours. Questions have since arisen about this certificate.
Contacted for a comment on Friday, Padmore told Stabroek News that her attorney will be engaging the public on the matter. “I would not be making a comment. My attorney will comment on that, will make a public announcement soon,” she said.
Padmore was appointed acting Head of SOCU in July, 2019. Her appointment came following the cloud of controversy surrounding the previous Head, Sydney James after an investigation of SOCU by the police found a series of irregularities at the agency.
In February, 2019, Commissioner of Police Leslie James had initiated an audit of SOCU following claims of grave mismanagement, including the misuse of its operational fund.
On May 3, 2019, former Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan had said that the “damning” findings of the police audit required the “shifting around” of persons and possibly firings.
“I understand that action will be taken by the Commissioner…I saw the report and it is not a very nice report,” Ramjattan had said in response to questions from this newspaper.
As such, in early July 2019, Sydney James was sent on administrative leave. Days after, it was announced that Padmore would be acting as the Head of the unit.
Senior Superintendent, Fazil Karimbaksh is expected to be the new head of the agency. Karimbaksh previously served as the Commander of ‘E’ Division and subsequently the Deputy Head of the Force Training Centre.
