Acting Top Cop could not have been expected “to just sit on his hands” – President Granger

During an appearance on this week's Public Interest television programme, President David Granger confirmed that the issue involving the two senior police officers engaged the attention of cabinet and the Public Security Minister has been asked to probe the problem.

Acting Top Cop could not have been expected “to just sit on his hands”   – President Granger

The National Security Committee has asked Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, to look into the rift between Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud and Assistant Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine.

Mr. Ramnarine acted as Police Commissioner during the Top Cop’s 100 days vacation leave. But upon his return, the Police Commissioner started to revoke a number of decisions that were taken by Ramnarine, including the promotion of police officers.

During an appearance on this week’s Public Interest television programme, President David Granger confirmed that the issue involving the two senior police officers engaged the attention of cabinet and the Public Security Minister has been asked to probe the problem.

While expressing disappointment that the issue made it out into the public domain, President Granger said while he was acting as Police Commissioner, Assistant Police Commissioner Ramnarine could not have been expected to be passive.

According to the President, “the Assistant Commissioner of Police had to take some authoritative actions and just could not sit on his hands if problems need to be solved. He needs to solve the problem”.

“Although there is a hierarchy and although there is a structure, there is also a convention that persons who are acting have to do their work in an authoritative manner and not in a passive manner. I do not believe that the problems are unsolvable and I would like to assure you that we are concerned about it because it could have an impact on the morale of the Police Force”, Mr. Granger said.

The President said the matter might be a “storm in a tea cup”, but he is also concerned that it could send a bad signal to the members of the public when they see such a rift existing between two very senior police officers.

The Police Commissioner returned to his job earlier this month and started to unwind many of the decisions that were made by the assistant police commissioner who was acting in the position.

With regards to the promotions, Commissioner Persaud’s contention is that he still remained the substantive Police Commissioner although he was on leave and therefore Asst. Commissioner Ramnarine had no authority to authorize promotions, since that should only be done by the substantive Commissioner.

He has instructed that the promotions be declared null and void and the promoted officers be reverted to their previous rank.

 

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