Saying that the recently launched Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was set up in secrecy, Opposition Member of Parliament Geeta Chandan-Edmond has moved to the National Assembly for answers.
The APNU+AFC parliamentarian has tabled a series of questions on the unit and the appointment of civilians Mark Ramotar and Stan Gouveia as its Director and Deputy Director, respectively.
Chandan-Edmond told Sunday Stabroek that while the opposition does not oppose to the force hiring “professional” civilians to execute its work, it must be done in a transparent manner.
“It appears this unit was established under a cloud of secrecy because there was no advertisement or no engagement by the government on the matter,” she said.
“The formation of this unit appears very arbitrary and we are of the view that the process was not transparent, hence the questions,” she added. “We need to ensure that qualified persons were duly appointed and that there was due process.”
In January this year, the GPF announced that appointments of Ramotar and Gouveia as the Director and Deputy Director of its CCU.
Concerns were raised by the public since in the past, members of the force headed what was previously known as the Police Public Relations Office.
Among the questions, for which Chandan-Edmond is seeking written responses from Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, is whether the CCU was created in accordance with the GPF’s Standing Orders.
“If not, can the Minister state whether the Standing Order(s) was amended to accommodate this unit, and can the Minister state the amendments made and to which standing order?” she asks.
Chandan-Edmond also asked that Benn release the “portfolio, qualifications and responsibilities, duration of contracted period, the commencement date of employment and terms and conditions: of Ramotar and Gouveia.
She further questioned the criteria used in selecting them and whether a process, if any, was employed to determine whether they are of good character and are fit and proper to hold the offices, especially, when they would be representing the GPF.
In addition, Chandan-Edmond has asked for information on their paid salaries, benefits and emoluments, as well as any additional costs to taxpayers.
She has also asked for information on the size of the unit, the number of civilians and police staffing it, their qualifications, their paid salaries, emoluments and benefits, the criteria used in selecting them and whether the posts were advertised.
Responding to her submission, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs last week informed Chandan-Edmond that two of the questions would be amended.
In the letter sent to Chandan-Edmond, which was seen by Stabroek News, Isaacs noted “I wish to…inform you that his Honour, the Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order No. 20 (2)(a), has amended questions Nos. 3 and 6 by deleting the word “qualification”.
Standing Order No. 20 (2)(a) of the National Assembly states that “if the Speaker is of the opinion that any question of which a member has given notice to the Clerk or which a Member has sought permission to ask without notice, is an abuse of the right of questioning or infringes any of the provisions of this or any other Standing Order, he or she may direct: – (a) that it be printed or asked with such alterations as he or she may direct.”
