Newly appointed Police Commissioner Leslie James has stated that ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are now handling resources, particularly the Force’s vehicles, in a better manner.
Police vehicles which were involved in accidents as a result of reckless driving
Speaking at his first engagement with the press since assuming office in August, the Top Cop on Thursday told reporters that the Force is concerned over the general use of its assets, especially the vehicles.
However, James noted that since being made to cover expenses incurred from reckless vehicular accidents, ranks are being more cautious with the Force’s resources.
“Our subject Minister, the Honourable Minister of Public Security [Khemraj Ramjattan], he’s indicated that any rank who is found to be guilty of causing damages to any vehicle will be surcharged and that policy is in place. So with that alone, together with our input, we’ve seen a better handing, better caring and better maintenance of those vehicles,” Commissioner James stated.
Police Commissioner Leslie James
Following the US$2.6 million donation last November by the Chinese Government of 55 pickup trucks, 44 motorcycles, 35 All-Terrain Vehicles and five buses, as well as crime fighting gear and equipment, Minister Ramjattan in an attempt to curbed reckless driving by ranks on the roadways, warned that those who get into accidents with the Force’s vehicles will not only be charged but also be made to pay for the damages to the vehicles.
Despite this warning, several ranks have found themselves literally paying the price for not heeding the warning. In fact, mere says after the Minister’s caution, a Police rank in Berbice crashed one of the new pick-up vehicles donated by the Chinese Government, on the Canje Public Road, Berbice.
Apart for being made to cover repairs costs which amounted to some $200,000, and which was paid in full, the rank was also charged with dangerous driving and was transferred to Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary, to undergo further training in defensive driving and ethics in driving.
More recently, a Police Constable crashed one of the Force’s pick-ups into a house on the De Hoop Public Road, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, back in May. He was placed on $40,000, bail after slapped with a dangerous driving charge and it is expected that he too was made to pay for the damages to the Force’s vehicle.
Back in July, then acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine had disclosed that more than $2.3 million had been repaid by ranks for damages to the Force’s vehicle during this year alone. He had stated that 10 ranks had already completed their payments while the others were in the process of doing so.
According to reports, from July 2016 to June 2017, 18 members of the Force were involved in various category of accidents while driving Force vehicles. This compared to an increase of 23 ranks involved in accidents during the period July 2017 to June 2018.
A total of 41 ranks including seven subordinate officers and 34 Constables were fingered in these accidents. Furthermore, another 18 ranks over the two-year period being involved in various accidents while driving private vehicles.
