To musical tributes of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and Shah Rukh Khan’s “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud (DSM) brought the curtains down on his 33 years of service to the Guyana Police Force on Wednesday afternoon during a special farewell parade.
Persaud will retire in a next few days as Commissioner after serving four years in that capacity. But he says he is ready for the next chapter of his life, which will see him continuing to work in good health.
He was greeted with loud applause and cheers from his junior ranks on his arrival at the Police Sports Club ground where one of the largest parades had been organized to bid him farewell.
“I didn’t come to this distance in isolation… I am leaving the force in good health and with confidence going into the next phase of my life,” he said in a brief eight minutes address.
The retiring Commissioner did not have a prepared speech, but said it seems like yesterday that he participated in his first parade and now this was his last.
He recounted briefly his years in the Force, moving through the ranks. He described his Policing career as an eventful but enjoyable journey.
He was enlisted in the force on October 15, 1984, and received his first promotion to the rank of Cadet Officer in 1990.
He was appointed Assistant Commissioner in 2007 before moving onto Deputy Commissioner in 2012 and later acting Commissioner in 2014.
Persaud said his term as Commissioner saw the Force crossing a lot of unchartered territories as he sought to restore public trust and confidence in the force.
The retiring Commissioner is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration.
Wednesday afternoon’s ceremonial parade included a general salute to Persaud before he was allowed to review the parade followed by a drill display, a dance and the beating of retreat by the Police Force band.
Although he did not hand over the symbolic mantel to a successor who is yet to be appointed, the Commissioner offered best wishes to his successor and noted that the Force will have to deal with new challenges as the country faces changes.
Asked whether he would recommend Deputy Commissioner David Ramnarine for the post, Persaud said that was not a job for him.
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