Jagdeo, Granger to meet this week on Top Cop’s appointment

With a list of potential candidates already lined up, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to meet with President David Granger this week to select the next Police Commissioner.
According to closely placed sources, the meeting has been set for Thursday at State House. It will be the first time since July that the two leaders have met on the matter of a constitutional appointment.
Following the retirement of former Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, there has been much theory over who will succeed him. While current acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has held the fort for some time and is perceived as a possible successor, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into an alleged plot to assassinate the President did put a damper on those chances.
Over the course of the CoI, a number of officers were summoned and even upbraided for their work during the investigation. Besides the senior officers, junior officers were also criticised by Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe, who was appointed by the President.
Ramnarine was one of those who made an appearance before the CoI. When the dust was settled, and the report handed over, it included recommendations for sanctions against Ramnarine for the handling of the investigation by the officers involved.
Ramnarine was later interviewed for the position of Police Commissioner. Also interviewed were Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, Leslie James, Lyndon Alves, Marlon Chapman, Nigel Hoppie, Maxine Graham and Crime Chief Paul Williams.
In November 2017, when asked whether Williams is likely to take up the mantle, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who was then acting in the capacity of Public Security Minister, offered no direct reply.
Harmon, however, had hinted at the possibility of a female assuming the position of Top Cop when he outlined that while there was a line of succession in the Guyana Police Force, female officers were also to be considered when deciding on a Police Commissioner.
In so doing, he noted, “You don’t just look at the male ranks in the Police Force; we have female officers as well. And, therefore, if it is that a female officer is to be the person, then so be it.”
Nevertheless, as mandated by the Constitution, the President will have to have consultations with the Opposition Leader, on the names for the Top Cop position and the Deputy Commissioners of Police.

Police Service Commission
The last piece of the puzzle before the Commissioner can be appointed was the Police Service Commission (PSC). The PSC is tasked with promotions of officers above the rank.
It also handles disciplinary matters for officers. The life of the previous Commission ended in September of 2017. However, a new Commission was sworn in earlier this month, with Slowe as Chairman. But his appointment has raised eyebrows.
Following the last meeting with President Granger, Jagdeo had said Slowe “…will bring two sets of baggage with him. One, the political approach to the job; that is, judging people based on politics; and secondly, he has a lot of interpersonal problems with many members of the Police Force and old scores, I believe, to settle; and therefore that could harm his judgement.”
Asked to comment on this statement shortly after he was sworn in, Slowe told reporters that what he has to offer is what matters. “I do have baggage, but is what’s in the baggage is the important thing. The baggage contains discipline, professionalism, measures to deal with corruption; so forget about the baggage, examine what’s inside,” the new PSC Chairman asserted.
Jagdeo had said that when he raised his concerns, President Granger had indicated that he would speak with Slowe to ensure that he acts impartially, and not to “bring baggage to the job.”