Minutes after being officially sworn in as Guyana’s 31st Police Commissioner by President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday, Seelall Persaud sent a strong message to political provocateurs and other persons contemplating activities outside of the law in the lead up to the May 11 general and regional elections.
The Police Commissioner said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was preparing for a “worst case situation” where a total breakdown of law and order occurs.
He explained that his confirmation as Top Cop poses no additional challenge for him since he was preparing for elections since Parliament was prorogued in November 2014.
“We are preparing for a lot of the side impacts of elections, meaning training on public order issues, election campaign issues and so on so that our ranks could get an understand of what the law is and what they are required to do,” he added.
He indicated that the water canon which was procured by the force a few years ago and failed to disperse a large crowd of protesters in 2012 during the Linden unrest was now functioning and ready to be used if necessary.
It is Persaud’s hope to use the next four years he has left in office, to leave as a legacy a more professional force and one that embraces democratic principles.
The Police Force has been coming under increasing pressure over its human rights abuses. To this end, the Police Commissioner said dealing with this development is high on his agenda and assured that work has already began to reduce these instances of police excesses with massive training planned for ranks.
Persuad has served the Guyana Police Force for 31 years, most of that time he served within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He was the Head of the Drug Squad for 10 years and was the Head of CID for some seven years.
When asked if he would consider himself to be “well qualified” for the position he explained that there were a number of factors that would cause someone to attach that label to himself.
Seelall who served as acting Commissioner following the retirement of Leroy Brummel last year was briefly congratulated by President Ramotar at his office.
He subsequently received well wishes from the room filled with legal luminaries and high ranking police and government officials.
The Police Commissioner was in high praises to the almighty for this achievement. (Kurt Campbell)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login