‘ Win the trust of the public’

…President Ali charges police

At a time when the Guyana Police Force is receiving significant backlash for its failure to solve the West Coast Berbice murders, and it’s handling of other matters, include the arrest and detention of a 14-year-old girl, President Irfaan Ali is urged senior officers to enhance professionalism within the force, noting such will result in notable improvements in the way they are viewed by the citizens of Guyana.

Aside from the unsolved murders of the Henry cousins – Isaiah and Joel – and Haresh Singh, the Police Force has come in for negative criticism over the shooting to death of an unarmed man – 39-year-old Cecil Sampat last August, and not so long ago, the arrest and detention of a 14-year-old girl over an alleged case of trafficking in marijuana. The little girl was held behind bars at the East La Penitence Police Station well over her 72 hours, and denied a legal counsel for the most part of her detention. Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, in ordering the release of the child, said the teenager should have never been placed behind bars.

“For you who serve in the police force, professionalism is the embodiment of everything you do. And I’m not asking for anything beyond that, beyond that professionalism that would see a remarkable improvement in the way the population views you, views your uniform, and the Government,” President Ali said while delivering remarks at the Force’s Annual Commissioner’s Breakfast  held at the Officers Mess, Eve Leary.

He said this is critical as the force’s performance and the Government’s performance go hand in hand and are inseparable in the eyes of the population.

He urged the senior officers to build a legacy of success which is marked by teamwork, trust and commitment.

“I ask you, the senior and commanding officers for us to introspect and for us to strategically come up with possible new ways or modified ways in winning that trust, in winning that confidence,” he said.

Further, he assured the officers that their lives will be improved within the next five years but said improvements in their performance is also important. “We expect to see marked improvement in performance. A lot of professionals believe that we should go on a case outcome basis for incentives in the police force, similar to a production incentive in all the industries. I don’t believe this to be the only way forward. Because we must never give the impression that our only driving force to resolve a case is incentives and rewards,” he reasoned.

The President then reminded the officers that their primary driving force should be their oath, commitment to office and their love for country.

Meanwhile, the President announced that his Government will work on a special housing programme to enhance the lives of all police.

“Part of our programme to ensure we enhance the welfare of not only the senior officers, but all ranks, is to ensure that we work on a special housing programme that will not only see ranks having access to house lots, but to ensure that we help them to qualify so that they can get loans and grants to build their homes. These are important things that add to performance that adds to job satisfaction,” he said.

The Head of State noted that capacity building in the force is integral to ensuring that members are equipped to benefit from all of the opportunities to come.

In his remarks, Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie provided an overview of the GPF’s performance over the last year and assured President Ali of the police force’s commitment in fulfilling its mandate. He said too that the force remains committed to learning from their challenges, improving professionalism and enhancing public trust and confidence.

Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon Robeson Benn was also a part of the annual Commissioner’s Breakfast.