As was predicted government has iniatiated steps to remove Paul Slowe and Clinton Conway from the Police Service Commission using the fraud charge levelled against them as the reason.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has asked Slowe and Coneay both retired Assistant Commissioner of Police to justify why they should not be removed from the Police Service Commission in light of allegations that they along with others conspired to defraud the Guyana Police Force of $10M.
In a letter dated May 19, 2021, the Prime Minister told both men that it was brought to his attention that they were charged with the offence of conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.
Conway and Slowe along with seven others, have been charged with the offence alleged to have been committed between March, 2019 and July 2020.
“In the exercise of the powers vested in me by virtue of Article 225 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana I hereby direct that you do show cause in writing why I ought not to advice, His Excellency the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, that you be removed from the office of a member of a member of the Public Service Commission as a result thereof,” Prime Minister Phillips wrote in his letter to the men.
They are required to respond no later than May 31.
The battery of lawyers representing the accused retired and current senior police officers have said the allegation is without merit.
Weighing in on the issue last Friday, Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan who served as Minister of Public Security between 2015 and 2020, said it is clear that the PPP/C is on a massive witch hunt.
“This is a witch hunt of epic proportions, which will come back to haunt the PPP. They seem not to understand this security sector at all,” Ramjattan said.
Ramjattan submitted that the attacks are intended to remove Slowe and Conway from the Police Service Commission, which, as part of its constitutional function, is responsible for the promotion of senior members of the Guyana Police Force, in addition to addressing disciplinary matters.
Ramjattan said it was the sitting Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, who had approached the five police experts to review the Force’s Standing Orders, which were in need of updating. According to Ramjattan, there is nothing criminal or illegal about the arrangement.
He said it is clear that the PPP/C it abusing its powers to remove Slowe and Conway from the Police Service Commission, in an order to replace them with individuals who are aligned with the PPP/C.
Slowe last week vowed to defend his name as he rubbished the allegation that he was paid millions of dollars to review the Force’s Standing Orders, though it had already been reviewed.
On Thursday, Assistant Superintendent Krishnadat Ramana told the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court that Slowe along with Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clinton Conway, Retired Assistant Commissioner, Claude Whittaker; former Senior Superintendent George Fraser and former Senior Superintendent, Mark Gilbert received $10M to facilitate a review of the Guyana Police Force’s Standing Orders, though the Orders were reviewed by the Strategic Planning Unit of the Guyana Police Force between July 2018 and March 2019.
But through his Attorney Selwyn Pieters, Slowe rejected the allegation as well as the claim that he sexually assaulted an Assistant Superintendent. “The allegations of conspiracy to defraud is false. Work was done on the Standing Orders,” Slowe said while stating that the allegations are intended to tarnished his good name and reputation.
Slowe, who served as an officer of the law for 37 years, explained that there was no timeline in which the review was expected to be completed. He explained that though work had commenced on the review, the General and Regional Elections, held on March 2, 2020, had caused the process to be suspended. The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic had further compounded the situation.
“In the lead up to the elections, the location in which meetings were held became unavailable due to use by the Guyana Police Force for elections purposes. Further, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. The Election Situation in Guyana which was resolved in August 2020 and the compounding COVID19 pandemic, made meetings to deal with finalization of the Standing Orders not feasible,” Slowe explained through his attorney.
Further, it was noted that as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Slowe had other constitutional duties to attend to, including overseas meetings.
Turning his attention to the allegation of sexual assault, Slowe contended that it is simply false.
The claim that she (name stated) reported the matter to Assistant Commissioner Andries-Junor is also false. No touching at any time took place at any meetings Mr. Slowe attended,” the Legal Counsel stated.
He said Slowe is presumed innocent and will be pleading not guilty to the charges made against him.
“His criminal lawyers will be vigorously defending this matter and look forward to the truth coming out in a court of law,” Pieters assured.
He has linked the allegations to disciplinary actions taken against certain members of the force by the Police Service Commission, signaling that legal actions will be taken against though who have defamed his character.
“Because of the inflammatory manner in which the Guyana Police Force Corporate Communications Unit is peddling these false allegations the public’s record must be set straight and also, to protect the character and careers of Mr. Slowe, members of the Police Service Commission and Senior Police Officers, whose image the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and Corporate Communications Unit seeks to besmirch for collateral purposes having to do with disciplinary matters at the Police Services Commission involving several Senior Superintendents and the promotions of Senior Police Officers that has occupied the Court since January 2021. Mr. Slowe also intends to vindicate his reputation from the defamation that is being peddled,” Pieters said.Though Slowe was charged on Thursday, he was not present in court, as at the time, he was out of the jurisdiction.
