THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) wishes to respond to an article published in the Kaieteur News yesterday Thursday May 20, 2010, under the caption “Police bungle $19M boat purchase”.
The Force wishes to state that the article which dealt with efforts by the Police Force to acquire an additional boat in order to enhance its maritime capability, appears to be yet another mischievous attempt by the media to besmirch the image of the Guyana Police Force.
The boat in question was sourced, and while being tested by the supplier it was discovered that there were difficulties with the vessel which, as a result, was never handed over to or accepted by the Police Force.
The Guyana Police Force is refuting the statement made in the article that “Earlier this year at the opening of the Police Officers’ Conference Police Commissioner Henry Greene, when asked about the delay in putting the vessel into operation, confirmed that the vessel which was reported as brand new had developed engine problems. He did indicate at the time that the Force was trying to secure the requisite spare parts and if that failed, then the purchase of two new engines would be contemplated”.
The Commissioner of Police has indicated that he never made such a statement that the Force was trying to secure the spare parts, as the Police Force will not and cannot be involved in the acquisition of parts for a vessel that was never handed over to the police in the first place.
Currently the Ministry of Home Affairs and the supplier are in negotiations towards a resolution in this matter.