Less than two hours after announcing the appointment of Leslie James as the new Commissioner of Police, the former Crime Chief took the oath of office to serve as the 12th Guyanese Police Commissioner.
Just after the afternoon swearing in at State House, President David Granger said the Office of Police Commissioner is a serious one that must be taken seriously.
“The Office of Commissioner of Police is not a toy, it is not trinket, it is not a tool of political favour or patronage. The very security of the state, the safety of the Guyanese people, rests on the Police Force and the Officers who command it. And unless those officers are persons of integrity, of intelligence and impartiality, this country would never be secured and our women and children would never be safe. This country cannot move forward unless the Guyana Police Force preserves the environment and the peace and security of the state and the people”, President Granger said.
He said all of the constitutional requirements were met for the appointment of the new Police Commissioner, reminding of the appointments of a Public Service Commission and a Police Service Commission and his consultations with the Police Service Commission’s Chairman and the Leader of the Opposition.
The President also announced that in addition to appointing the Commissioner of Police, he has decided to appoint four Deputies. The four will cover operations, administration, law enforcement and intelligence.
“Those are the four most critical areas of Police operations in this country and those appointments will serve several purposes. The Force will be more efficiently managed in those four areas and second, Officers below the rank of Deputy Commissioner could look forward to becoming Deputy Commissioner”.
President Granger reminded the new Police Commissioner that life doesn’t exist only in Eve Leary and there are many challenges taking place across the country that will have to be addressed.
“On our western border with Venezuela, we have refugees coming in by the day, on the southern border, we still have aircraft landing, bringing strange substances, along our coast, we still have traces of piracy and smuggling, contraband, gun running, narcotics trafficking, along the coastal areas, women are still being attacked and abused, robberies take place and unfortunately too many rogue Policemen, have been found to be involved in these crimes”, he said.
He said the new top brass of the Police Force will have lots of work to do, being the principal agency to ensure law and order in Guyana.
“The Police Force has to be reformed and you can’t build a new house with old wood. You have to select new materials, people with a new vision, people with a new commitment to break from the old bad habits and to return to the principles of good policing”, President Granger noted.
He said the Government will move ahead with the reform of the security sector and he is confident that the new Commissioner and his new team will lead that reform with the trust of the public.
The President said his concern remains the safety of citizens “and not parades and old years night parties, but the safety of citizens”.
Commissioner Leslie James said he is honoured to be taking on the new role, adding that he is fully aware of what is expected of him, and what is expected of the Guyana Police Force.
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