Why the government has failed to establish some of the constitutional bodies is anybody’s guess. Specifically, there is no Police Service Commission. There can be no excuse.
The speed with which the government established the Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima disaster testifies to how fast the government can do things.
The very government had moved with alacrity to suspend the Police Service Commission headed by retired Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Slowe. The speed was astonishing.
The government had sought to get some members of the Guyana Police Force promoted against the established principle of not promoting individuals who had complaints or issues pending against them.
Some of those whom the government wanted promoted were those with whom it found favour. One such person was Calvin Brutus, who was promoted to Assistant Commissioner against the determination of the Police Service Commission.
He has now fallen from grace and has been dismissed from the force. He had filed legal action against the police force.
Among those whom the government also wanted promoted was Fazil Karimbaksh. When the Police Service Commission compiled the list of those promoted and excluded the government’s chosen few who were facing disciplinary matters, the government announced that it would not accept the promotions.
It compiled its own list using the Police Service Commission that it had sworn in. That list included those whom the government wanted promoted.
Such was the situation, and so powerful was the grip of the government on the Guyana Police Force, that those who were lawfully promoted never wore their new badges of rank.
The court subsequently ruled that the suspension of the Paul Slowe-headed commission was flawed. It is not clear whether those promoted by the Paul Slowe Commission ever gained acceptance and were compensated for the promotion.
The government’s promotion list gained acceptance. Karimbaksh was one of those favoured by the government. He was among those denied promotion by the former Police Service Commission as a result of serious allegations that required investigation.
In fact, Karimbaksh and Brutus had taken the Commission to court over the refusal by the commission to promote them. The court supported the decision by the commission.
The news is out. Once more, Karimbaksh is embroiled in rape allegations. Such allegations had swirled around him when he was stationed at Linden. They also swirled when he headed the Police Training School.
The silence of the police hierarchy at this time is deafening. So too is the silence of the government. Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has been swift to terminate the services of ranks that fall within his purview for minor infringements.
Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond recently announced that the police would not tolerate abusive acts against women. One would have expected that by now she would have made a statement.
The allegation is that Karimbaksh raped a female police inspector. It is said that he had been having sexual relations with this woman from the time she was a police recruit.
This time around, the woman alleged that Karimbaksh held her at gunpoint and threatened her with death should she decide to end the relationship. She has filed a formal report with the police.
People have been arrested for less. Charges have been filed for less. There are also reports of a gun threat in the presence of the woman’s mother.
A former executive of the Guyana Teachers Union is languishing in jail following a conviction for having sex with a young girl. Perhaps certain people are exempt from prosecution.
Paul Slowe, a retired Assistant Police Commissioner, is facing the courts for allegedly touching a woman’s thighs. This matter has been going on for a very long time with no end in sight.
This brings back memories of the rape allegation against former Minister Nigel Dharamlall. A young woman accused him of rape, but he was never arrested. Again, the powers that be remained silent. Public pressure forced his resignation.
It is said that a lot of money has changed hands.
The Alliance For Change has since issued a statement calling for Karimbaksh’s immediate removal to allow for a full and impartial investigation.
The political party wants a team of regional and international investigators. It says that it has no confidence in any investigation to be conducted by the police.
What is more, the AFC says that while it is unlikely, a decisive statement from the Home Affairs Minister supporting a call for an independent investigation would be an indication that she has zero tolerance for rape and sexual assault.
It says that women in the ruling party should also raise their voices, demanding an impartial investigation. Their silence can be interpreted either as complicity or that they have been issued a gag order.
This issue would have been under wraps had it not been for social media. Mainstream media has not carried a report. Other women have made similar allegations, but Karimbaksh was continuously promoted.
The action by the government is sending a message that women assaulted by members of the force who are aligned to the political hierarchy are above reproach.
The silence of the Police Commissioner can be understood. He was selected by the political administration and promoted ahead of his seniors. His confirmation came after he reached the age of retirement.
He has avoided talking on any matter. He is not holding press conferences.
This is one time he can establish his right to be called Commissioner.
