MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, yesterday at a press conference, gave the assurance that the retirement of some senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will, in no way, fragment its structure, as there are available replacements.

He was responding to a questioner about who would replace retired Commissioner Leroy Brumell.
Rohee explained that the decision for the replacement of Brumell has to come from the Office of the President as the appointment of either an acting or a substantive Commissioner falls to the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief, President Donald Ramotar.
A follow-up question about whether the Ministry of Home Affairs is in any way concerned about the number of vacancies “popping-up” within, the Minister pointed out that the GPF has been in existence for more than 100 years and there has never been a case of it collapsing as a result of senior ranks retiring.
He added that “five times before it was expected to collapse as a result of this prognosis of so many people going off due to retirement.”
“Retirements allow ranks from the bottom to come to the top. The younger ranks are looking at upward mobility too and you don’t want to send signals to them that clash with their desires or reasonable expectations,” the Minister stated.
He said the Ministry remains optimistic that the Force will continue to function effectively while, at the same time, proceed with its reforms aggressively.
Brumell served the GPF for 36 years and his retirement was followed by that of ‘D’ Division Commander Eric Bassant.
Another Assistant Commissioner, George Vyphuis, who is Commander of ‘A’ Division, is slated to retire shortly.
By Ravin Singh