Granger says deliberate attempt to embarrass Police, Govt

There has been a surge in criminal acts and activities in recent days and Head of State David Granger has sounded the alarm that this is in fact a part of a coordinated effort to embarrass the Government and Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Granger made this pronouncement on Thursday, when he met with members of the local media corps for his ‘Public Interest’ television programme and said “I am suggesting that the pattern of crimes that we have seen is part of a campaign.”
The President conceded that there has been a decline in the rate within which ranks of the GPF not only respond to reports of criminal activities but also in their apprehension and prosecution of suspects.
The President told media operatives, “I am very suspicious about the fact that the Police are reacting very slowly.”
He used the opportunity to draw reference to two robberies committed on Wednesday last, one at the home of former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and another at the home of the son of prominent Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram.

The President was adamant that these crimes “cannot go unnoticed.”
According to the Head of State, “I get the impression that these crimes, they are crimes, they are almost to embarrass the Police Force, to embarrass the Government.”
He suggested that the perpetrators of the attack against the former Home Affairs Minister could not seriously be expecting to walk away with any large haul of loot, “but it certainly made the headline news.”
The President was adamant that “we have to be very careful that people are committing crimes because of some ulterior motives… Maybe it is to show that the Police Force is weak or the Government is weak “
Granger told media operatives “we don’t know for sure what is taking place but many of these crimes have their origins in the weakening of the Police Force.”
This weakening of the Police Force, according to Granger, obtained during the period he recently described as the troubled period in Guyana, adding that there are some persons who seem hell bent on repeating or continuing the lawlessness that prevailed during that period.
“We have a very serious problem on our hands,” according to Granger, as he pointed to Government’s resort to resuscitating the Security Sector Reform Project with the assistance and funding of the British Government.
“Some of the actions taking place,” according to Granger, convinced him that the Police Force has to be reformed.
Expanding on his revelations, the President reminded that Government inherited the Guyana Police Force in its current state, namely a state of affairs where there was an erosion of its capacity and capability.
During that ‘troubled’ period, according to Granger, the Police Force was weakened, coupled with the fact that more Police were murdered during that period than in any other period in Guyana’s history.
“We had rampant criminality, the murder rate was much higher, executions were much higher… drug lords were driving about.”
According to the President, the Police Force was present during that troubling period and this is compounded by the fact that many of the ranks that were witnesses to and a party to activities of that period are still in the Force.
“We have not purged the Police Force so there are still some elements in the force and in society who were involved in those problems.… certain high profile crimes we are noticing now seem to be hold overs from that period and I am very suspicious about the fact that the Police are reacting very slowly.”

Storm in a teacup
Meanwhile, the President also used the occasion to weigh in on the current public bickering between Police Commission Seelall Persaud and his deputy Assistant Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine.
Persaud, who recently returned from leave has attempted to rescind decisions taken by Ramnarine who had acted in his stead, namely with regard the promotion of several Police ranks.
The Top Cop has claimed that his temporary replacement was not authorised to make any such promotions, while Ramnarine differed with him.
The matter has since spilled into the public domain and according to President Granger, it was earlier this week addressed at the level of the National Security Committee.
Granger told media operatives that the Public Security Minister has since been tasked with investigation the matter.
Lamenting the fact that the matter has in fact been playing out in the public domain, Granger called the state of affairs unseemly and of concern since it could in fact not only have a negative impact on the morale of the ranks of the force but could also embolden criminal elements looking to do mischief.
He suggested too that such high-level quarrelling in the hierarchy of the Police Force can also undermine the public trust in the institution.
Weighing in on the spat between the two Top Cops, the President pointed to the fact that the Force operates with a hierarchical structure with the Commissioner at the helm.
He noted however that when the Assistant Commissioner is acting in that capacity, it is expected that this be done in an affirmative and not passive manner.
“Although there is a structure, there is also a convention that persons who are acting have to do their work in an affirmative manner and not in a passive manner,” according to President Granger.
He nonetheless opined that the matter is not insurmountable and while it is cause for concern, it is in fact nothing more than a “storm in a teacup”, adding “I don’t believe the problems are unsolvable.”