Private security association chides Crime Chief, wants explanation

Parking lot controversy

– Top Cop distances self, says Crime Chief must be held accountable

The Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Williams, has come under fire from the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO) over comments he made on the parking lot row between Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes and two security guards.
Broomes claimed that she and her driver were the victims of verbal assaults and threats by the security guards, who were attempting to bar her from parking in a specific section of the East Bank Demerara establishment on Sunday evening.
She even alleged that one of the guards had pointed and “crocked” a firearm at her and the driver of her SUV vehicle at some point during the incident.
The guards were arrested and detained by the Police for close to 16 hours, before

being released on their own recognisance.
However, subsequent release of CCTV footage from the business place contradicted the minister’s version of what had transpired. Speaking on the matter, Crime Chief Williams had told sections of the media on Wednesday that he would recommend private security guards working in public places, like the supermarket, be properly trained, especially those carrying firearms.
“It is within your own judgement and sense, if you see a vehicle of a certain standard or class right there, and then it speaks out to somebody. Even if you want to rate the person for whatever it is — whether the person is a drug lord, Minister or businessman — as soon as you see a vehicle of a certain standard, it supposed to arouse your attention and alertness,” he explained.
However, GAPSO on Thursday slammed Williams for his remarks, saying it is “unfortunate” that the security personnel are expected to apologise when the minister’s driver had attempted to breach a secure area without seeking permission, and the minister herself had thrown several ‘No Parking’ signs on the ground, an action which constitutes damage to property.
Noting that while the incident is beyond comprehension, the Association went on

to ask whether the security guards’ conduct was consistent with their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and whether the Ministerial Code of Conduct was breached by the Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry.
“The Guyana Association of Private Security Organizations (GAPSO) is calling on Minister of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, an elected official who has a responsibility to act appropriately, to explain to the public her actions on the CCTV video that is in the public domain. Failure to do such, Ms. Simona Broomes must be held accountable for her actions.
The Guyana Association of Private Security Organizations is urging all security officers to not allow agitators to seize this moment to advance their often self-serving beliefs of what is erroneous. Do not allow them to bemoan the lack of trust in the private security industry. Do not allow them to beat down the hard working men and women who are security officers,” the statement on Thursday further outlined.
Meanwhile, as GAPSO urged the Guyana Police Force to thoroughly investigate this incident, it is also calling on the Commissioner of Police (ag), David Ramnarine, to explain if the reckless comments made by Williams represent the position of the Guyana Police Force.
Contacted on Thursday, however, Ramnarine opted not to comment specifically on

the statements made by Williams. He would only say the Crime Chief is authorised to speak on criminal matters.
“The Crime Chief is authorised to speak on matters of crime to the press, and any statements purportedly made by the Crime Chief, [or] which are attributed to the Crime Chief, he must be held responsible for them… I cannot and will not venture to respond to statements made by the Crime Chief,” the acting Top Cop told this newspaper.
Contact was made with ACP Williams on Thursday, who told Guyana Times at the time that he had not read the statement, and as such, cannot respond to same.
“I don’t have any response at this time; when I’m ready, I’ll notify the media,” the Crime Chief said.
Further commenting on the issue, Ramnarine noted that the matter is still under active investigation, and upon the completion of same, it would be sent for legal advice on the way forward.
“The CCTV footage that I saw — which is clearly the same CCTV footage that is available all over the place — suggests very clearly that there was an interaction between the minister’s driver and the security, and subsequently the minister and the security. It very clearly also indicates a sudden type of behaviour, where items such as parking signs were flung down by a person purported to be the minister… And my understanding is: for all intents and purposes, two wrongs do not make a right,” the Top Cop further asserted.