Dear Editor,

There is growing corruption within the Guyana Police Force and the emergence of a new attitude that sees police ranks sharing sensitive and confidential information with members of the criminal enterprise.

Together, these two issues, if not addressed condignly, have the potential to undermine the efforts being made to cause a reduction in crime and criminality in Guyana. These sentiments were expressed recently by Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Retired Justice Cecil Kennard.

Kennard said that he is worried that public trust and confidence in the police as a constitutional entity is waning as more reports of complaints are being filed with his office. The issue, he asserts, that prevents successful prosecution and disciplinary action against the rogue ranks involved in corrupt practices, occurs when the complainants are afraid to testify because of fear of victimisation or being targeted by the colleagues of ranks involved.

Justice Kennard said that reports lodged at his office reveal that the police are accused of executing their duties with a lack of professionalism and their general conduct leaves much to be desired.

He condemned the use of indecent language, unnecessary force, thuggery and other forms of unnecessary coercion against citizens during the performance of their duties, explaining that this paints a bad image of the training that ranks have received.

Adding insult to injury, Kennard revealed that the new trend of behaviour that has seen some ranks leaking information to the press and criminals about ongoing investigations and the movements of the force is a cause for concern.

Kennard said that the force has to become more stern and in instances where this is believed to be the case, must exhibit a no-tolerance approach which should see delinquent ranks being charged for revealing confidential information.

Kennard also believes that if issues of bribery, payments for favours, payments for non-prosecution of crimes and such like continue, then the fight against crime and criminality will be lost.

He said that while he recognises the efforts of the current Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell and other top brass of the Guyana Police Force, they cannot be expected to be at every nook and cranny or in every way to pick up instances when the police exhibit unprofessionalism or are involved in corrupt practices.

He said that the salaries they receive in return for performing their respective duties is no excuse for engaging in illegal activities that taint the image of the force.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has urged the commissioner to act quickly to address the public perception that Guyanese police are mostly unprofessional and corrupt. He has stated publicly that citizens need to come forward and give evidence and to assist the force in fighting corruption.

His ministry has also launched an initiative which is aimed at creating a mechanism through which citizens can report corrupt practices of police and holders of public offices. Let us therefore hope that the corruption within the police force will be stopped.