The Leader of the Alliance For Change, Nigel Hughes, believes the sanctions handed down by the United States against Senior Superintendent of Police, Hemnauth Sawh, is an embarrassment to Guyana that further erodes trust in the leadership of the Police Force.

Senior Superintendent Sawh along with three other Guyanese and two Colombian nationals were on Thursday sanctioned by the US Government for alleged cocaine trafficking into the United States.

Sawh’s alleged role in the operation was described as a facilitator of the smooth passage of the cocaine through Region One at the time that he was serving in the region as the Police Commander.

At a press conference this afternoon, Mr. Hughes said the revelation of the Police Officer’s involvement in the massive international drug operation supports the lost of confidence in the Police Force and its leadership.

“Now we are embarrassing ourselves not only domestically, but internationally, it is clear that our friends, particularly the United States have lost confidence in senior members of the Guyana Police Force, this comes a mere few weeks after there was an indication from the US ambassador, that the services of the FBI would have been available had their been a request from the President , of course none came, we are now at a stage where confidence in the Guyana Police Force is unacceptably low,” the AFC leader said.

According to Mr. Hughes, the Guyana Police Force cannot continue to discharge its mandate in the way it has been operating with the many suspicious clouds over its head.

“It is clear, that the Guyana Police Force is beyond reforming itself, it is clear that the leadership of the Guyana Police force and the Commissioner of Police have no interest and pays no concern to the rapidly deteriorating lack of confidence not only in his ability but the Guyana Police Force as an institution,” the AFC leader noted.

He said with the many issues plaguing the Police Force, Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, who is on extended service, must head off into retirement and an immediate restructuring of the Force should take place.

Hughes said on this particular issue, the US appears to not have confidence in the Government since it appears that senior functionaries in the Government were kept in the dark with regards to the sanctions.

“The fact that a friendly government like the United States of America would not have provided, the Head of State with a heads up about what was coming, is an indication of the lack of confidence in the head of our country for the purposes of law enforcement, particularly in the area of narcotics,” the AFC leader noted.

Mr. Hughes said with General and Regional on the horizon, the conduct of the Police could also throw a shadow on the Force’s ability to be impartial and act in the interest of citizens.

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