President Irfaan Ali
June 1 ,2021
President Irfaan Ali yesterday denied attempting to influence the work of the Police Service Commission (PSC), a charge levelled by the Chairman, former Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe.
The accusations and counter-accusations are the latest salvoes in what has seen increasing divisions in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), controversy over promotions and a flurry of criminal charges.
At a press conference yesterday, Slowe accused President Ali of attempting on several occasions to influence the promotion of senior members of the GPF. According to Slowe the charges of conspiracy to commit fraud which have been levelled against him and PSC member Clinton Conway are part of a plot to dismantle the current PSC and install a more easily influenced Commission before the current promotions list can be officially issued.
Other aspects of the alleged plot include taking control of the Police Association which is one of four groups that nominate members of the PSC to Parliament’s Committee of Appointments.
Speaking during the virtual press conference, Slowe alleged that Ali made contact with him on two occasions in September 2020 and on December 23 2020 in an attempt to have particular members of the Guyana Police Force promoted.
“On September 16, 2020 I had a meeting with President Ali where he tried to persuade me that some members of the force who had been moved to senior positions including Senior Superintendent [Calvin] Brutus and Senior Superintendent [Fazil] Karimbaksh should be promoted,” Slowe claimed.
He said that he informed the President that that there is a process through which promotions occur and the even though he was chair, he held only one vote in the process. Further, Slowe noted that he informed the President that the policy of the GPF and the PSC was not to promote ranks if there is a pending disciplinary matter.
“It was clear that the President wanted me to use my influence at the commission to have those persons promoted… [and] that I will not compromise my standards or ethics,” he said.
The PSC chair added that several days later he received a letter from Assistant Police Commissioner Edgar Thomas who holds command of the Presidential Guard recommending several ranks under his command for acting appointments.
The letter was considered highly irregular since it is only the Police Commissioner who writes to an outside agency on behalf of the force. Subsequently the Commission met and recommended that Thomas be rebuked via letter.
Slowe contends that following the delivery of the letter of reprimand, Ali called him and stated that he had instructed Thomas to write the letter. He alleged that the President went on to request that Slowe and the PSC go easy on Thomas.
The final interactions between Slowe and the President occurred, Slowe alleged, on December 23 last year following a meeting of the PSC to create a shortlist of ranks to be promoted.
Slowe said Ali asked why none of “his people” were considered for promotions and following a conversation which “did not go well” the President terminated the call.
“He was agitated. He was very, very upset. It was a rough conversation. Raised voice, very angry and then the President terminated the conversation,” Slowe said.
Ali has denied these allegations. According to the President he did meet with Slowe as he met with “other independent commissioners” and the judiciary.
This is not only far from the truth, but it is a malicious attempt to change the narrative.
“At that meeting, I raised various concerns with him that were brought to my attention without prejudice,” he maintained, adding that it was convenient and opportunistic for Slowe to alleged that he tried to influence him and the work of the PSC.
“[It is] a total lie that my meeting with Mr Slowe was to exercise any influence…as President, my desire is to see these Commissions function professionally and independently,” he said.
Timed
Speaking specifically on the charges brought against him, Slowe said they were timed to have both him and Conway removed before the Chief Justice could deliver a ruling in the police promotions case before her.
On December 31 last year, Brutus had moved to the High Court to block the promotion of several senior ranks, who were listed for promotion ahead of him. In his application he is asking the court to overrule the PSC practice of prohibiting the promotion of ranks who have pending disciplinary matters.
Following a failed attempt by Attorney General Anil Nandlall to convince the parties to settle, the matter was ventilated in the Court and May 24 was set for decision. The decision has since been postponed.
Conway was charged on May 19. Slowe who is currently outside of Guyana was also informed on May 19 that he would be charged with conspiracy to defraud and sexual assault.
A letter also dated May 19 was dispatched to both men by Prime Minister Mark Phillips asking them to show cause why the charges of fraud levelled against them should not result in their removal from the PSC.
“It has been brought to my attention that you have been charged with the offence of conspiracy to defraud…and placed before the Georgetown magistrates court (where) the matter remains pending…I hereby direct that you show cause in writing why I ought not to advise…that you be removed from the office of a member of the [PSC] as a result thereof,” the letter reads.
They had been directed to respond by May 31 either via email or through hand delivered hard copy to the Prime Minister’s Office or official residence.
In response the men have detailed affidavits and supporting documents.
“He’s filed 27 pages of submissions, He’s filed an affidavit of over 100 pages and his total document brief amount to 557 pages so Mr Slowe did not take the show-cause notice very lightly. Mr Slowe put forward a very significant case that deals with the political interference in this case …lawyer Selwyn Pieters indicated.
Pieters who represents both Slowe and Conway has promised to make these submissions available to media but up to press time they had not been released.
