… Ministry again expresses concern at misinformation peddled by media, some politicians
THE Ministry of Home Affairs is compelled once again to express its concern over the misleading information being peddled by the media and some politicians over the use of the Police Central Welfare fund to facilitate the feeding of police ranks during the 2011 General Elections.
A statement from the Ministry last evening said, “No illegal or criminal act was committed by the payment of the money into the Police Central Welfare Fund.”
According to the records available at the Guyana Police Force, the statement continues, a total of $43,008,000, in the form of nine cheques, was paid into the Police Central Welfare Fund by the Ministry of Finance.
Payments were made by the Ministry of Finance as a result of estimates that were submitted by the Police to cater for the feeding of ranks stationed at the various police locations.
“A reasonable person would understand the difference between estimated and actual expenditure,” the statement contended.
The Police Finance Office, as part of its mandate, thoroughly reviewed the amounts allocated and made payments to the appropriate Divisional and Branch Commanders, based on criteria worked out by the Guyana Police Force.
This resulted in the sum of $10,516,178 remaining in the account, and this has since been paid over to the Ministry of Finance.
Re-payment to the Ministry of Finance was held in abeyance to ensure that no expense specific to the feeding of ranks was outstanding.
The Police Central Welfare Fund was established a number of years ago to take care of the welfare of policemen and women. It also manages the police messes, bars and canteens.
The use of the Police Central Welfare Fund was the only feasible option available to facilitate proper accountability, transparency and the tracing of transactions relating to the expenditure of the money to feed the ranks.
As was pointed out in the ministry’s previous press statement, quite a number of payments were required to be made from the amount of money received from the Ministry of Finance.
All vouchers and relevant documents are in the possession of the police for audit.
The Ministry of Home Affairs again repeats that $51,008,000 was paid to the Guyana Police Force for elections related activities, of which $43,008,000 was paid into the Police Central Welfare Fund for the feeding of ranks.
None of this amount was paid to the Ministry of Home Affairs; neither did the Ministry direct the Police how to utilise the funds.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has noted the constant references made in sections of the media to a claim that a senior rank of the Guyana Police Force who, “on condition of anonymity”, claimed he did not receive, like Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine, “a blind cent” from monies collected for General and Regional Elections 2011.  The claim by Ramnarine has since been discredited.
The ministry considers this claim, like the previous one, to be unfounded and misleading.  To set the record straight, the ministry is releasing copies of returned cheques from all Divisions and signed for by the respective Commanders.
In respect of the claim that “monies requested by Commanders were never provided by the Force” it is to be noted that Commanders can request any amount of money.  Also, they may submit a shopping list of any amount of ration/dietary needed.  However, in the end, it is Force Headquarters that makes the final determination in the allocation of monies as per Division.
Finally, as regards letters issued by Mr Henry Greene to Commanders to seek the assistance of the public, assuming that this is indeed the case, the ministry wishes to make it clear that no such instruction originated from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Those who worked with and for the Guyana Police Force over the years, and prior to and after 1992, must know about these practices and much more which they themselves condoned and approved during their association with the Guyana Police Force.
The Ministry is concerned about the manipulation of the information on this matter by political opportunists and elements of the media, and which appears to be intended to cause confusion in the minds of the public and unease among the rank and file of the Guyana Police Force.
Their efforts will not succeed, the statement concluded.