THE Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), is once again compelled to respond to certain matters which Police “C” Divisional Commander, David Ramnarine, has raised in a letter published in his name in the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News  of March 19, 2012 respectively. A statement from the ministry last evening said, “The Ministry of Home Affairs stands firm in its view that all members of the Guyana Police Force, without exception, from Constable to Commander, must uphold the Standing Orders of the Guyana Police Force.
“Mr Ramnarine is wrong in seeking to make himself an exception from a long established custom and practice, and to cover that exception under the guise of his Constitutional Rights as a citizen of Guyana.
“Unlike hundreds of thousands of citizens of Guyana, Mr Ramnarine has the authority and powers under the Police Act Chapter:16:01 to deny any citizen, albeit temporarily, certain Constitutional rights such as his Freedom of Movement and Association.
“He can order the arrest, detention and facilitate the prosecution of any citizen, who in his view, breaches any law, considered a breach of the peace and the good order in communities under his jurisdiction.
“Mr Ramnarine can order an investigation by ranks under his command into any matter of a criminal nature that can affect the lives of citizens. Mr Ramnarine therefore is no ordinary citizen; he is vested with powers unlike the common man and woman in our society.
“The question is, since all other ranks of the Force have the same Constitutional rights which Mr. Ramnarine claims as personal to him, how come other ranks have opted to uphold the Standing Orders of the Guyana Police Force, while at the same time, being fully aware of their Constitutional Rights, but chose not to dabble in politics and babble in the press everyday?
“It must be borne in mind that Ramnarine serves at the highest level of the Force, yet he has chosen to set a bad example for the Force under cover of his Constitutional Rights. His actions are careless, mutinous and unlawful.

“Part III of the Police (Discipline) Act Chap (17:01) states:
“Any Member of the Force (other than the Commissioner) who communicates to the publisher or Editor of any newspaper or to any unauthorized person any matter connected with the Force without the permission of the Commissioner; commits an offence against discipline, and is liable to such punishment as may be imposed upon him, by the Commissioner or the Disciplinary Authority, in accordance with the provisions of the Schedule, except that no punishment provided in Sub-Paragraph (d), (e), (f), or (g) or paragraph 1 of the schedule shall be imposed on a Special Constable who has not been called out full time service” .

“In his letter to the Editor of Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, Mr. Ramnarine, contrary to long established customs and traditions of the Guyana Police Force, chose to parade publicly his personal political views on matters such as governance, political democracy and the role and functions of the Office of the Minister of Home Affairs vis-à-vis the Police Act.

“The Commander accuses the Ministry of intruding into the affairs of the Force.
“The Minister of Home Affairs has had cause to privately caution Mr. Ramnarine on several occasions about the demerits of his arguments, and the harm it can cause to and within the Force. Subsequent developments proved these efforts futile.
“Moreover, since the PPP/C Administration must bear full responsibility for any upsurge in criminal activities and a breakdown in public order, does Mr. Ramnarine expect the Minister of Home Affairs to sit back and tell the Police Commissioner nothing, while Mr Ramnarine and his satraps sit back in their exalted chambers and rub their hands in glee? And when the Minister, according to the Police Act, gives “general direction to the Commissioner” in respect of criminal and public order issues in Guyana, Mr Ramnarine, deems this intrusive.
“In the circumstances, the Minister of Home Affairs hereby declares that he has lost confidence in the Guyana Police Force’s Commander at ‘C’ Division, and as a consequence, has written to the Commissioner of Police (ag) drawing to his attention, his concerns about the conduct of Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine and has requested that action be taken at his level in accordance with the Police (Discipline) Act Chap 17:01