On the heels of the Guyana Police Force hosting a symposium on integrity in the Police Force, former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired Asst. Commissioner Paul Slowe has issued a call on the Government to bring an end to its interference in the Guyana Police Force, which Mr. Slowe considers to be “unprecedented”.
In a post on his Facebook page, Mr. Slowe also called on the Government to discontinue the “weaponization” of the Police Force, which is said is now being used to go after perceived non-supporters and others for no other reason than they remain professional and do not acquiesce to political demands.
While he was still Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Slowe complained of the President contacting him about the promotion of specific officers in the Force. He also complained of the Home Affairs Minister interfering directly in the operations of the Police Force.
Slowe has since found himself facing fraud and other charges in the local Courts. He has denied the charges and believes he is being targeted.
In his Facebook post today, Mr. Slowe said the Minister of Home Affairs must stay out of operational matters in the Force. Those matters he said, are the sole preserve of the Commissioner of Police and include transfer/posting of ranks and countermanding legitimate instructions from the Commissioner to his subordinates.
Slowe who served the Guyana Police Force for over 35 years also called on the Police Force to stop encouraging the undermining of the Commissioner (Ag).
He said when decisions are made by the Commissioner that do not find favour with some of his senior subordinates, Government officials, including the Minister of Home Affairs, are approached and the decisions are overturned.
Slowe said there was the promotion of ranks by an Assistant Commissioner with no lawful authority while the Acting Commissioner was briefly out of the jurisdiction. He said when the promotions were reversed on the return of the Acting Commissioner, Government officials were approached and the promotions were reinstituted.
The former Police Service Commission Chairman said a professional Guyana Police Force would require ethical leadership, and that is something which he said is sadly lacking at this time.
Slowe said while there are currently lots of qualified ranks in the Guyana Police Force who can provide the required leadership, those ranks are being marginalized and some of the most “unprofessional and unethical” ones are holding the sway.
Mr. Slowe has told News Source that all that he has said could be verified since the information is factual and the evidence exists to back up his statements. He said he has nothing against the Police Force, but he believes it is time, more persons start to speak out on the myriad of problems in the Force and those officers who have gone rogue.
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