Despite what he said were a number of hurdles, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum was yesterday admitted to the local bar.
Blanhum is among four senior members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School and were presented with their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) on Saturday.
His petition was presented by attorney Latchmie Rahamat before Chief Jus-tice (ag) Roxane George.
In her admission remarks, acting Chief Justice George urged Blanhum to remain committed to excellence.
She reminded him that being an attorney is a 24-hour job. “You are not just an officer but you are an officer of the courts…Diligence, perseverance, and determination are what will take you through. I know you are up to the task and I know you will live up to the task,” she said.
The acting Chief Justice also told Blanhum that from now on, honesty and integrity should be the hallmark of all that he does while noting that she has no doubt he will live up to “high expectations”.
As he stood to address the acting Chief Justice in a room filled with his family including his wife, siblings and mother, Blanhum assured that he will continue being fully committed to upholding the rule of law.
He said becoming an attorney was not only his childhood dream but also that of his mother.
In the midst of his academic journey, Blanhum shared that he was grateful that classes were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I always give 100 percent in everything I do…..I had several experiences where work and school duties overlapped. Fortunately, I was able to wear all my caps comfortably,” he said.
In 2019, Blanhum was appointed as Commander for Region One when the force restructured its boundary marks for divisions.
Despite the challenge, Blanhum was able to succeed and graduate with a distinction.
“That was a challenge by itself because you had to complete a certain level of attendance before you can graduate. I was absent from some of the classes. I had some very good lecturers, they excused me from being absent from classes but I also had some very good colleagues who assisted me with learning material and I was able to attend classes whenever I could and also I was able to write my examinations….I graduated with a distinction,” Blanhum told reporters during a brief interview following his admission.
“….I am a gladiator….I do not give in. Every crisis, I try to look at the opportunity and I always persevere. Being a police officer is not for the weak at heart,” he added.
Blanhum said being an attorney will benefit him “tremendously” as it will aid him in performing his daily duties as the Crime Chief. “….One of my duties entails reviewing crime files, looking at the elements of defences to see whether the investigators were able to prove all the elements of defences before the police submit the files…So this definitely will help me,” he said.
He encouraged other members of the force to pursue their academic journey. “I want to let them know that every journey will not be smooth. You would encounter some road bumps but at the end perseverance is the key. You need to persevere in order for you to succeed,” Blanhum said.
Blanhum has been a member of the GPF for over 24 years. He is the country’s youngest ever Crime Chief.
