HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said the appointment of a substantive Police Commissioner after the departure of Henry Greene who retired earlier this year is certainly a priority for government, but such an appointment must first follow due process. Responding to questions at a post-Cabinet news conference yesterday, Dr. Luncheon sought to explained the appointments a few days ago of two Assistant Commissioners Leroy Brumell and Seelall Persaud as Deputy Commissioners of Police, with Brumell continuing to act as Police Commissioner.
According to the HPS, Commander-in-Chief President Donald Ramotar, after satisfying all requirements, informed Cabinet that he had appointed two Assistant Commissioners Leroy Brumell and Seelall Persaud as Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Luncheon said all should be aware that Brumell is an Assistant Commissioner and was appointed Acting Commissioner when the substantive Commissioner sought leave of absence from the President in response to the rape allegation made against him.
Asked why Brumell was not appointed Commissioner, Luncheon responded that, on the occasion of Commissioner Henry Greene’s separation from the job on April 21, what was apparent is that the duration of Brumell’s acting may not have been sufficient for being considered as the President moved towards a substantive appointment.
“His elevation to the post of Acting Commissioner was unexpected, as there were about two or three years left in Greene’s tenure. Brumell’s appointment was unexpected and a substantive appointment would require some amount of examination, review and satisfaction by he who appoints,” Luncheon said, adding that he, therefore, suspects that that process has not been concluded.
The HPS pointed out that the acting appointment was an appropriate undertaking by the Administration at that point in time, as an appointment made now would be technically irreversible.
Luncheon continued: “I am countering that by saying that the convention is that a suitable appointment is made after an appropriate time of examination, review and satisfaction of he who appoints. I don’t have any reason to doubt that you would concede Mr.Brumell’s appointment, to act, is indeed unexpected. The issues and the development surrounding Mr. Greene‘s departure could hardly have been anticipated by any of us.”

EXPRESSED GRATITUDE
The newly appointed Deputy Commissioner and Acting Commissioner Brumell had expressed gratitude to the President and the Leader of the Opposition for having the confidence in him to elevate him to the rank of Deputy Commissioner.
Brumell told the Guyana Chronicle, earlier this week,  that he was summoned to the Office of the President where he was informed of the decision.
He said, while there, he met with President Ramotar, Cabinet Secretary Luncheon and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.
Brumell said, too, he was told that President Ramotar and Opposition Leader David Granger had come to an agreement that he and Persaud were to be confirmed as Deputy Commissioners and he was instructed to continue acting as Commissioner.
Brumell said he is confident he will be able to enjoy the support of the other ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as he has always received it,  moreso, recently, in his capacity as Acting Commissioner.