Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and a team yesterday held an “overdue” meeting with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) top brass for discussion on a number of matters, including the “selective enforcement” of COVID-19 measures and “sloth” in the investigation of the murders of West Coast Berbice (WCB) cousins Joel and Isaiah Henry, and Haresh Singh.
Other issues which were discussed during the meeting included the alleged weaponising of the police, the use of police lights and sirens by non-emergency vehicles, and the release of unnamed prisoners.
Harmon was accompanied by APNU+AFC parliamentarians Roysdale Forde, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Christopher Jones, as well as Executive Director of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting yesterday morning, Harmon related that he believes that the discussion provided the opposition with an opportunity to outline their concerns to Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie.
“The Commissioner was receptive, understood our concerns and disappointments with the performance of the Guyana Police Force and gave his commitment to look into a number of the matters which were raised,” Harmon said.
He noted that the police were also advised that if there is no improvement in the coming weeks, the opposition may exercise options that are “allowable” under the laws of the country.
As it relates to matters surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Harmon said this is considered to be a “preeminent issue” in the country which has to do with “life and death”.
As a result, he said that the opposition team made it clear to the Hoppie and his team that the enforcement of measures has to be “better”.
“…Many citizens were of the view that the enforcement of these measures by the Guyana Police Force was not consistent with their obligations. We felt it was necessary to make that point up front — that COVID-19 enforcement measures have to be better [enforced]. Too many citizens are losing their lives. Very soon we will get about 200… If we continue to that it is the human resource of our country that is diminishing,” Harmon emphasised.
Although charges were laid in relation to the murders of the Henrys, Harmon said the opposition underscored their disappointment into the sloth of the probe.
He also related that the Top Cop also pledged that the force is working along with the Guyana Prison Service to put systems in place where the public will be informed about the identity of prisoners once they are granted release.
Additionally, Harmon stated that concerns were raised about the issue of numerous non-emergency vehicles bearing police lights and sirens. “We outlined that this development could lead members of the public to become hesitant or reluctant to yield to vehicles using sirens given that they may be uncertain as to whether it is a legitimate emergency given the proliferation of non-emergency vehicles which are now using police lights and sirens,” he said.
Harmon said Hoppie indicated that a team will be put together to look into this matter.
Further, Harmon added that the opposition lamented that members of the force did not receive any salary increase last year and that none appeared to be forthcoming for 2021.
According to Harmon, former Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan spoke about the statistics not being provided to the public in relation to crime. On this point, he said Hoppie related that the GPF’s Public Relations (PR) department was being revamped and assured that “very shortly” persons will be able to call the force and be provided with that information.
“We outlined to the Commissioner our concerns about the manner in which the Guyana Police Force is being perceived by the public and the manner in which some officers were executing their duties,” he added.
He made special mention of a perception that some parts of the police force have been weaponised to act against the best interest of the opposition and he also cited the treatment of APNU+AFC MPs during a recent sitting of the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
Harmon said the Commissioner described the situation as unfortunate and committed to ensuring that the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of Members of Parliaments (MPs) were not curtailed in future and that an immediate end is put to searches of MPs at the Public Buildings.
Though it was the first such exchange with Hoppie, Harmon said it was a “good” one. “So there are still some level, in my view, of hesitancy on the part of some of the officers but we consider this to be a very important first step and that we will look forward to other engagements of this nature,” he related.
He noted that it appears as through Hoppie was “genuinely” concerned about the issues raised during the meeting and he look forward to future interactions with him.
“He promised to enquire into them, he promised to take certain steps in relation to some of them and we will give him some time to deal with those issues. I do expect, however, as I said to them also, we believe that the police force has to engender confidence in the public,” Harmon said.
