Top Cop resumes duty

…due to retire in April

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has resumed duty on Monday, after being on six months’ administrative leave.
Upon resumption of duty, the top cop was reportedly briefed on several matters of national importance. Guyana Times was told that Persaud would have also had a closed-door meeting with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.
A source further told Guyana Times that Persaud would in April attain the age of 55 years old, but it is not certain if the top cop would go into retirement before his birthday.

Attempts to contact the police commissioner for a comment on his resumption of duty proved futile.
With Persaud slated to retire in April, the Government is swiftly looking to have the Police Service Commission operational, in order to facilitate senior promotions within the Guyana Police Force.
Persaud’s replacement has not yet been identified, but based on recent developments, the Guyana Times understands that Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, Deputy Police Commissioner Maxine Graham and current Crime Chief Paul Williams have all been tipped as ideal candidates for the post.
Ramnarine has been acting in the capacity of police commissioner while Persaud was away on leave, but Paul Williams only recently acted in that capacity while Ramnarine was on an overseas trip, representing the Guyana Government.
Persaud was, in November 2017, due to return to the helm of the Guyana Police Force after utilising his four-month annual leave, but was asked to proceed on administrative leave until further notice. This was to facilitate continuation of the Christmas Security Programme that was rolled out by Crime Chief Paul Williams and Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine.
This development had engendered lots of speculation among the top bracket of the Force, the business community, and political activists, taking into consideration the recommendations that were presented from the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.
The plot came to light after East Bank businessman Andriff Gillard claimed that a businessman had offered him $7 million to assassinate the President. This had led to establishment of the CoI, as requested by the President.
That Commission of Inquiry was headed by retired Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Slowe, who recommended that disciplinary actions be taken against Police Commissioner Persaud, and that he be made to resign and be investigated for perjury.
Nevertheless, Minister Ramjattan had stated that he was not in agreement with all of the recommendations of the report, and had noted that before they were acted upon, they would have to be deliberated at Cabinet.