Public Security Ministry to enforce protocol for Police donations

The Public Security Ministry will examine new protocols for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to receive donations so that professionalism is not compromised.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan made this pronouncement on Wednesday at the Ministry on Brickdam, where he pledged to examine establishing protocols that stipulate that donations to the GPF be made through the Ministry, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The current operational protocol states that donations to the GPF must be made to the Commissioner of Police. Minister Ramjattan noted that this protocol will be enforced in the meantime so that Police officers’ professionalism is not compromised.

Donations by businesses often help to meet an immediate need of Police Stations and officers, Minister Ramjattan noted. “Indeed there are times when the Police and/or the CPGs (Community Policing Groups)… require the assistance of businessmen and there are genuine businessmen who give without wanting anything in return, and who will never compromise the professionalism of the Police Force,” the minister pointed out.

However, he emphasised that donations received from businesses do not guarantee any protection if they break the law. “We do not want to see businessmen giving and expecting that they, having committed a crime, will now see that CPG group or Police Force compromising the investigation thereafter,” Minister Ramjattan said.