Top Cop revokes promotion of junior Police ranks

Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie has revoked the promotion of several junior ranks who were promoted on January 1, 2021.
While the reasons are still unknown, this came just after Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George granted an order on December 31, 2020, blocking the promotion of several Police ranks to Assistant Commissioner by the Police Service Commission (PSC) until hearing complaints of discrimination levelled by Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus.

The matter would have started when Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus complained to the High Court that he is being bypassed for promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, even though he was recommended for promotion by the Commissioner of Police.
In his claim, he stated that he was being overlooked for promotion owing to frivolous allegations of indiscipline levelled against him for which he has not been called to defend himself.
Earlier in the week, Chief Justice George had adjourned the hearing of senior ranks’ promotion until February 5, 2021, after Attorney General Anil Nandlall told the court that the Police Service Commission (PSC) is willing to solve the issue outside of the court.

On January 1, the Guyana Police Force announced the promotion of several Police ranks at the Force’s annual junior promotions party.
It was then, a supplementary list of persons who were also named as promoted was released. Guyana Times understands that it was some of those officers on the supplementary list that had their promotions revoked.
Following the announcement of the revocation of the officers’ promotion, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn said he would be reviewing the lists of junior and senior Police ranks who were recently promoted by the GPF.

“The matter is under some review, and we will come up with a fix to the issue… there was a meeting with the Commander of the Police Force, and the matter is under discussion,” Minister Benn told the media on Friday.
The Home Affairs Minister said there has been some failure in communication within the administration, which contributed to this issue.
“I will request all lists for review so I too will have a better understanding of what obtains and a discussion as to how it is done,” he posited.
Guyana Times understands that those persons who were stripped of their promotion were not on the initial list but were added on sometime after the acting Police Commissioner, Nigel Hoppie, would have reviewed same.
On Thursday, several letters were dispatched by Commissioner Hoppie to Commanders and Senior officials indicating the rescinding of the promotions. Some ranks have taken to social media venting their frustration.