…Home Affairs Minister highlights steps taken to improve accountability
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, teamed up on “Perspectives This Week – Law Enforcement Accountability”, which was moderated by Dr. Prem Misir, Head of the Press and Publicity Affairs Division of the Office of the President, and broadcast by the National Communications Network Channel 11.

Together, they stressed the importance of law enforcement accountability in democratic societies to sustain public trust in the security services and advance public safety, and highlighted the significant efforts of Government towards achieving that objective during its time in office.

Dr. Luncheon explained that the employment of lethal force by the security forces is necessary in the maintenance of national security and there was always some amount of concern within the population regarding law enforcement agencies.

This is why, he stated, accountability is given such a high profile in democratic societies to ensure that this grave responsibility is not abused or used incorrectly.

He noted that the recent actions of some ranks, which have sullied the good reputation of the security forces, have brought significant attention to the matter of accountability of the enforcement agencies. However, he stressed that the oversight mechanisms for these agencies are there to stop such actions from recurring.

“The interplay of executive and parliamentary oversight does generate that environment in which all aspects of accountability have been dealt with,” Dr. Luncheon stated.

He referred to the constitutional and statutory bodies, such as the Police Complaints Authority and Police Service Commission, which seek to ensure the integrity of the security forces, noting that the roles and responsibilities given to these institutions certify that the actions of individuals and institutions, over which they have oversight, subscribe to the fullest extent of the law.

Dr. Luncheon indicated that critics that question the interwoven system of oversight must establish where the flaw lies before that issue can be addressed to improve the system of accountability.

“The critics would need to be establishing in any of these areas exactly where flaws, weaknesses lie and what types of interventions have been made by the Administration, whether they are adequate, whether they are not adequate, all in the aim of improving accountability.”

While the Head of the Presidential Secretariat highlighted the need for law enforcement accountability, Minister Rohee, who oversees the security services, discussed the number of steps that have been taken by Government to improve accountability.

He referred to the Police Discipline Act that was tabled in and enacted by the National Assembly which guides the police force in addressing misconduct by ranks, as well as the Citizens Security Programme which seeks to involve the civilian population in providing feedback to address accountability matters.

The Minister further stated that the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Police Complaints Authority play a critical role in investigating alleged misconduct by police ranks.

The Office of Professional Responsibility, he said, consisted of several senior retired officers that have unblemished records and their task is to receive requests from the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Commissioner of Police and investigate.

Government continues to work towards upgrading the Office of Professional Responsibility, which is similar to the Internal Affairs Unit, that foreign law enforcement agencies employ to ensure that rigorous oversight of police action is maintained.

A monthly accountability reporting process has also been established where each divisional commander of the Guyana Police Force is tasked with the responsibility to submit reports on several areas of operations to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which are crucially analyzed, with criticisms and comments and routed back to the commanders for action to be taken.

Further, through the Citizens Security Programme, an integrated crime information system has been established where each police station has been equipped with information technology tools that link them to the sub-divisional and divisional hubs ensuring that information gathered on a real-time basis is sent up the hierarchy to headquarters where staff in a data centre monitor the information looking for actionable intelligence and feedback from the public.

Dr. Luncheon also noted that media sensationalism threatens the image of the security services and urged media operatives to remain professional and discharge their functions with respect for the effort that both Government and the Guyana Police Force expend to ensure the safety of the Guyanese population.

He noted that such actions have the ability to undermine the numerous oversight mechanisms that have been put in place to stamp out poor performance.

Dr. Misir, in wrapping up the programme, stressed that the involvement of the population in a positive manner within the oversight mechanism of the security forces will ensure that their performance remains of the highest standards. (GINA)