Police, politics, protocols & problems (Part 1)

Dear Editor,
Guyana was listed as the 85th least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International, after scoring 40 points out of 100. With all the former APNU/AFC Administration’s corruptions revealed by the PPP/C Government since taking office, one wonders what the result will be for the current year. With so many ongoing investigations, the Auditor General is overtasked and overwhelmed with his duties and as a result, among other reasons, many audits have to be contracted to private sources. Guyanese patiently await the disturbing findings and follow-up actions. It is not strange but true, this was one of the damning reasons why the APNU/AFC party, led by past caretaker President David Granger himself, was so adamant and persistent, to retain power at any cost and not to demit office.
Overriding for a minute the pandemic tragedy, the suffering of the impoverished nation, the heat of the high crime wave, the relentless violence against women and the traumatic abuse of children, having a field day is the front-line story of the sad state of affairs of the Police department. They have been the subject of much discussion and, gradually but surely, more and more of their nature (underlying?), are being revealed and exposed. This should be worrying not only for the Commissioner of Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs but also, the President, Dr Irfaan Ali himself, who is on a mission to clean up all unethical acts and behaviour in all the Government departments and agencies. The past APNU/AFC Administration disfigured the nation with the picture of a corrupted Government, devoid of moral value, lacking the dignity of integrity, the intolerance of honesty and no respect for honour. This acknowledgement is acclaimed by all local, national, regional and international communities and remains a shame and disgrace to Guyana.
The Police department came in for several criticisms and condemnations, especially under the management of a debacle, the former Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, himself a current subject of controversies and suspicions. The impotence of his authority cannot be misguided and his “rubber stamp” position was effected by the hierarchy of the APNU/AFC party and its “bigwigs” calling the shots. No wonder the true status of the Police department undermined the nation during the past election period, when their true colour was revealed. The timely and strategic changes simply underlined the guilt of that Government and a President who never meant well for this nation. Inclusive in this way of thinking, were the appropriate and sly changes in the army to reinforce the safety and security of that party and its selected members.
Who is policing the Police, internally and externally, is an uncomfortable thought and leaves an open door for discussions, disbeliefs and deliberations.

Respectfully,
Jai Lall