City Constabulary should carry themselves with dignity, pride, professionalism

Dear Editor,

A recent media briefing held by the Chief Constable of the Georgetown City Constabulary in which he expressed his disappointment in the behaviour displayed by personnel from a private security firm towards ranks of the City Constabulary during an operation by the City Council to seize four fiberglass swimming pools in Ixora Avenue in Bel Air Park was indeed quite befuddling.

The first thing that confuses me is his conclusion that the conduct of the members of the private security firm would never be tolerated by the Guyana Police Force. How does he know that? I just don’t understand why the City Constabulary always tries to compare itself with the Guyana Police Force when there could hardly be a parallel drawn between the two law enforcement agencies; in local terminology, they would say that it is like comparing chalk to cheese.

To begin, the rank involved in the altercation with the private security has a history of misconduct, delinquency and venality to a level that is unimaginable and which would never been tolerated by the Guyana Police Force in any of its ranks. Note that none of the members of the private security firm brandished their weapons, or were as hostile or threatening as this Constabulary rank, behaviour that was uncalled for and incongruous. But then again every vendor that operates in Georgetown can attest to this type of erratic behaviour being a pattern of this senior officer which the City Constabulary and the City Council constantly condone and, in fact, at the moment they are having him act in the most senior positions in the City Constabulary.

In reality, quite recently, this officer had to be arrested by the very Guyana Police Force in a drunken state in Sophia.

It is sad that the City Constabulary that has been in existence even before the Guyana Police would be like castaway step relatives of the National Police, but if they want to be respected, then they have to respect themselves first by carrying themselves with dignity, pride and professionalism. And this will have to start with their recruitment process by hiring law enforcement officials with the academic, moral and spiritual upbringing that can raise or even surpass the standards of the Guyana Police Force.

The City Constabulary needs to improve its ability to tackle crime, public protection, and protecting vulnerable people before thinking about complaining and comparing themselves to any other agency.

Regards,

Jermain Johnson