Senior Officers plan to protest Minister Rohee’s direct involvement in the running of the Force
Capitol News, 19th Jun 2013
The latest controversy with the Minister of Home Affairs stems from the fact that he seems to be dictating who can get leave, if at all, and how many days they can get.
In 2011, the Minister asked the officers to defer their leave and concentrate on manning security arrangements for the general elections. But since then, the matter of leave has been a sticky one.
Senior Officers wanting to proceed on leave are required to get the approval of the Home Affairs Ministry.
Senior Officers are entitled to 42 days leave, while the lowest ranked officers, Constables, are entitled to 21 days. It now appears that Rohee has reduced the senior officers to constables where their leave is concerned.
Reports are that when Assistant Commissioner of Police Dereck Josiah applied for his 42 days leave, only 21 days were approved.
When Mr. Josiah queried, pointing out that Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine had applied for leave he was granted his 42 days without question. When this was pointed out, Ramnarine’s leave was promptly reduced to 21 days.
You would recall that it was Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine who was engaged in a public spat with the Minister over elections finances. Ramnarine was promptly removed as a Commander at Rohee’s instigation and he was shifted to a desk at Police Headquarters. The department he was shifted to is responsible for Force Development and has now become more or less defunct, leaving Ramnarine’s fate uncertain.
The Senior Officers are planning to protest Minister Rohee’s direct involvement in the running of the Force and they plan to take the matter of their leave entitlement up to the President if they have to.
The Officers are saying the matter of leave is not gifts that the Minister hands out as he pleases, but it is their entitlement.
Sources indicate that Rohee, at a recent meeting with Senior Officers, threatened that if they do not comply with his wishes they will eventually have to come begging at his doors; that is of course at the time of their retirement when they would have to claim their gratuity.
