THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has commenced interviews with senior police officers ahead of the annual end-of-year promotion of ranks from sergeants up to assistant commissioners.The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the interviews started earlier this month and over the last few days, senior superintendents, superintendents, deputy superintendents, assistant superintendents, cadet officers and inspectors have been visiting the Kingston office of the Police Service Commission to be interviewed by the interviewing panel.
Over the years there have been many claims among senior ranks that the process at arriving at the promotions was less than transparent and may have been politically influenced.
Earlier this year when the promotions list was released, observations were made about what was described as the “wanton superseding” of many officers within the force whose seniority and performance had been overlooked to favour others.
The members of the PSC, however, during an interview with this newspaper back then had stated that several factors were taken into consideration before they acted on the recommendations by the Guyana Police Force.
According to the established complement of the force, there should be four deputy commissioners; 12 assistant commissioners and several other senior ranks, including senior superintendents. At present, there are vacancies for four additional assistant commissioners as there are only eight at this time.
The Assistant Commissioners are Balram Persaud, David Ramnarine, Christopher Griffith, Brian Joseph, Sydney James, Clifton Hicken, Leslie James and Marlon Chapman.
Meanwhile, last year the PSC deviated from the norm of acting on the recommendations sent them by the commissioner of police. The commission took a decision to interview every single police officer from the rank of inspector to senior superintendent.