Stop disrespecting Police officers – Benn issues strong warning to public

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been calling for more respect from the public towards its officers in the execution of their duties. Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn made the plea while addressing the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana National Road Safety Council at the Police Officers’ Training Centre on Friday.
In his remarks, Benn emphasised that to reduce road accidents and meet this target of preventing them by 50 per cent by 2030, citizens must stop assaulting traffic officers who are carrying out their work. He stressed that the quality of policing would not improve if there is no cooperation and respect from the public.
“…policing will not improve if we don’t have the cooperation and the respect from the public…we have to be stronger. We have to support each other more and develop synergies across the agencies, report more, react faster, and be more assertive,” the Home Affairs Minister said.
The Home Affairs Minister highlighted the issue of Police officers being physically attacked by citizens, who were accused of breaking the law. In recent times, videos have surfaced online, showing Police officers being assaulted while carrying out their duties.
He stressed that this behaviour must stop, and that repeat offenders must face the brunt of their actions and be immediately dealt with. Benn also pointed out that some adults do not want to follow the law. He urged citizens to be mindful of their behaviour and to respect the law so that the country can become a safer place.
The Home Affairs Minister further stressed the need for the Police to put in place body cameras during engagements with persons to capture evidence at crime scenes as part of a wider plan to increase the Police Force’s professionalism. The use of cameras is among several measures the GPF has adopted to capture evidence at crime scenes.
“We have to put in place the body cameras for when we have the engagements with those persons. We have to deal with the repeat offenders who should not be permitted to drive if they lose points or if they indeed repeat offenders,” Benn said as he urged passengers to speak out when minibus drivers are speeding or playing loud music. He said that even when other passengers might side with the drivers, citizens must be assertive and exit minibuses that are not compliant.
The Guyana Police Force and the Guyana National Road Safety Council said they will continue their interactive discussions focused on advancing road safety efforts in the country. Benn hopes that through sensitisation campaigns, the public will be better informed about road laws and regulations, and will work with the Police to make the roads safer for all.
This plea from the Minister came on the heels of several persons being charged with assaulting Police officers on the roadways.
A minibus driver, Okemi Harry, who was caught on camera in November 2022 attacking and assaulting a traffic officer was jailed for 14 months and fined $80,000.
Harry, who was slapped with 13 charges last year, appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool in February of this year. He was found guilty of charges including using indecent language, failure to carry a conductor, and resisting a peace officer. However, he had four charges dismissed.
Harry pleaded not guilty to charges of careless driving, failure to comply with a Police officer, and failure to wear a seatbelt, and the matter was adjourned to April 14, 2023, for report.
In addition, Samuel Paraj, a 27-year-old unemployed male resident of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was charged for assaulting a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). He was jailed for nine months.
In another case, a 28-year-old tailor of Best Road, West Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to three charges stemming from his assault of a Policeman, which was captured on video in December 2022.
Nicholas Balkishun had appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty, and had pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, assaulting a peace officer, and driving under the influence (DUI). He was fined a total of $27,500 –$10,000 for the disorderly behaviour charge, $10,000 for assaulting the Police officer, and $7500 on the DUI charge. (G9)