The Promotions List for Senior Officers of the Guyana Police Force was released yesterday with Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus, who is currently performing the functions of Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’, heading the list of those promoted to Assistant Commissioners.
A release from the Guyana Police Force said that those also promoted to Assistant Commissioners are: Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Siwnarine, Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram and Senior Superintendent Kurleigh Simon.
Those promoted to Senior Superintendents are: Superintendent Khalid Mandall, Superintendent Mahendra Singh, Superintendent Dion Moore, Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram, Superintendent Hugh Winter, Superintendent Raphael Rose, Superintendent Jermaine Johnson, Superintendent Himnauth Sawh, and Deputy Superintendent Amit Das.
The release said that the announcement of the promotions was made yesterday by Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken during remarks he made at the conclusion of the Anniversary Route March as part of the GPF’s 183rd anniversary celebrations.
The release said that the promotion of the Officers and Ranks (both Senior and Junior) was met with much enthusiasm and jubilation as the Officers have waited a long time.
The release added that the Force’s administrative and operational capabilities were greatly affected due to the absence of promotions. Other issues need to be considered as well such as the fact that twenty senior members of the Force retired between 2020 and 2021 inclusive of the substantive Commissioner of Police, two Deputy Commissioners, and four Assistant Commissioners.
Further, six senior members have retired so far for 2022 with nine others to follow by December, 2022. This situation will be compounded by the fact that ten members of the Force are scheduled to retire in January of 2023 inclusive of one Deputy Commissioner and three superintendents.
“As a consequence of (these promotions), the Guyana Police Force’s capacity will be enhanced at the strategic, tactical and operational levels which will improve the service delivered to the public and adherence to police regulations”, the release stated.
The dozens of promotions are the latest move in an epic battle between this government and the former PSC over police appointments.
On July 1st, Stabroek News reported that retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, and immediate former Chairman of the PSC, Paul Slowe has applied to High Court Judge, Justice Gino Persaud for an injunction to halt any promotion of members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) by the new PSC headed by Patrick Findlay.
Slowe is contending that no promotion can be allowed to proceed in light of his previous challenge which is still pending before the High Court, to last year’s suspension by the President, of the PSC.
In the circumstances, Slowe is seeking an injunction restraining the Commission, the Prime Minister and the Attorney General who are listed as Respondents, from promoting or publishing a promotions list for members of the GPF, until the matter he previously filed has been fully dispensed with.
Three members of the new PSC were sworn in on May 31, 2022. A fourth member was sworn in on July 1st 2022.
