The revelation by embattled Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus, that Government has instructed a diversity policy in the Guyana Police Force, has triggered a response from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton.

In a Court action, Brutus is contending that the policy is discriminatory and seeks to elevate Police Officers of a certain ethnicity over others.

At a press conference today, Mr. Norton said a similar policy now exists in the Guyana Defence Force and therefore he has no reason to doubt that there is also one that the PPP Civic Government has mandated for the Police Force.

‘So what I am saying to you is this, one I believe what Brutus is saying, but I do not have documentation as it relates to Brutus but I have documentation to establish that that is happening in the Guyana Defence Force and by logical deduction I don’t see why they would do it in the Guyana Defence Force and not do it in the Guyana Police Force,” Nortons said.

Mr. Norton said the issue of diversity in the Guyana Police Force has been exhausted, pointing out that traditionally, Indo-Guyanese have been reluctant to join the Force.

He said he has no problem with diversity, but believes that the PPP’s policy is sinister.

“I have no problem with objective criteria being used to create a level playing field, I have a problem with the PPP’s approach, where it says that if you are going to get ten officers, seven or six must be Indo- Guyanese, even void of qualifications. What we need is a meritocracy, people should get jobs based on their ability and their performance,”” the Opposition leader said.

The Opposition leader said he has received reports of the Police Force putting an entire recruitment process on hold after those being recruited were of one particular ethnic group.

‘What the PPP is doing is seeking to ensure they put in the Guyana Police Force, people who they can control rather than seeking to develop a competent police force. The Head of the police force they would have chosen was because they know he is compromised and is prepared that he would do those wrong things that they want him to do”, Norton said.

The Government offered no response to the claims by ACP Brutus, who said the policy was introduced just after the current Government took office in 2020.

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