No year-end promotions for Police Officers – Top Cop

– Berbice Best Cop urges colleagues to stand sternly against corruption

Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken has announced that there will be no year-end promotions this year for officers of the Guyana Police Force.
The Commissioner made the announcement while speaking during the Guyana Police Force’s annual awards ceremony in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Thursday.

“We are into the festive season and unfortunately we are not going to do any promotions for this year’s end because our last promotion was the largest ever and so we filled the slots. What I can do as we are in the season of giving, I want to reward you for your good work with the sum of $400,000,” the Commissioner said as he applauded Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus for his excellent work at the helm of the regional police Division.
Hicken also announced that some police officers will receive Christmas and Boxing Day off-duty. In contrast, others will get Old Year and New Year’s Day off, to balance family time while still remaining committed to their roles and responsibilities as members of the Force.
Earlier this year, Senior Superintendents of Police, Calvin Brutus, Errol Watts, Khali Pareshram and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum were among eight senior police ranks who were promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police.
Senior Superintendents of Police; Fizal Karimbaksh, Ravindradat Budhram, Kurleigh Simon and Mahendra Sewnarine complete the list of promotions to Assistant Commissioner.
In addition, a list of 11, including Regional Division Commander, Superintendent Dion Moore, Superintendent Khalid Mandall, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud, and Superintendent Raphael Rose were promoted to Senior Superintendents.
Further, in January, 21 officers were promoted to Superintendents of Police, 25 to Deputy Superintendents, while 42 were promoted to Assistant Superintendents of Police.
Twenty-one were also promoted to Assistant Superintendents on Probation, four to Cadet Officers, and six to Chief Inspectors, while 97 were promoted to Inspectors of Police. In the junior police promotions lists, 104 were promoted to Regular Sergeant, 109 to Corporal and 85 to Lance Corporal.
However, during the ceremony, the best cop for Region Six Constable Courtney Sampson charged his colleagues to stand sternly against corruption.
Sampson who is currently stationed at Central Police Station in New Amsterdam over the past year would have investigated a series of high-profile matters. He has also been part of drug eradication exercises along the Berbice River which resulted in millions of dollars of cannabis being destroyed and firearms being removed from the streets.
He told the media that it was a joyous occasion for him.
“But before you can have joy you have to work hard. In order for you to enjoy your work you have to love it but before you can get anything done you have to love what you do. You cannot just join a job because you want; in order for you to enjoy your job and help people you have to love what you do. Everything comes with hard work,” he said.
Speaking of challenges and sacrifices, detective Sampson said he had to endure many sleepless nights.”
“Sometimes you have to go the extra mile and sometimes you have to walk to get things done because there isn’t always a vehicle available but as I said in order for you to get what you want; you have to work hard.”
He said his main reason for joining the force was to solve crimes. “I have seen a lot of drug users out there and how it affects them; this is one of the main concepts that motivated me to join the police force.”
The detective who lives at Khotbradt on the East Bank of Berbice says he intends to be dedicated and to serve and protect the citizens.
“There are persons out there who would approach you and try to influence you to do corrupt things. Just be positive and don’t let anything out there fill your eye. Once you work hard people will see your work and appreciate it.”
Detective Simpson who has been hard on those involved in the narcotics trade says just like every police officer he is also targeted.
“The job itself is a risk. Once you are going to be placing persons behind bars it is a risk. Once you are out there solving crime you are going to be targeted.”
Meanwhile Police Prosecutor, Corporal Winston Poliah was adjudged second best cop. Poliah is considered one of the fierier police prosecutors. Currently, he is prosecuting a case involving the largest drug bust ever made in Guyana’s history.
In addition, traffic rank Constable Balraj Budhoo is the region’s number three cop who would have made a total of 1112 traffic cases against errant drivers. (Andrew Carmichael)