-Guyana Police Force

THE Guyana Police Force has said it is unaware of any pending disciplinary matter against Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, contrary to statements made by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

“Cognisant of statements publicised in the media and which have been attributed to the People’s Progressive Party General Secretary and former Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, concerning disciplinary matters relating to police officers that have not yet been addressed, and in which reference was made to Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine, DSM, the Guyana Police Force wishes to state that it is unaware of any disciplinary matter pending against Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine, DSM.”

Rohee, who while being Minister of Home Affairs had a public confrontation with Ramnarine, targeted the officer again on Monday, ahead of the impending promotion of ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

Speaking at his party’s weekly news conference on Monday, Rohee talked about the many unaddressed disciplinary matters relating to police officers, and singled out Ramnarine, long seen as a prospect to lead the GPF, as one of those officers whose matter has not been determined.

“It is to be recalled that a disciplinary matter concerning Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine is among several disciplinary matters slated for consideration at the level of the disciplinary authority.

“Concerns have been expressed about persons whose disciplinary matters are yet to be heard, and who have not been subjected to integrity tests (before) being promoted in 2016,” Rohee told the news conference.

Back in March 2012, while being the Minister of Home Affairs, Rohee had declared a loss of confidence in Ramnarine, and had urged then Police Commissioner Leroy Brummell to discipline him over public statements. “…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.”

Rohee’s ire had been raised when Ramnarine had responded to criticisms triggered by his public statements made in relation to a $90 million allocation to the GPF for the 2011 elections activities. Rohee had accused Ramnarine of breaching the Guyana Police Force’s Standing Orders by making the information public. However, Ramnarine, who had said he had spoken out because of concern over the welfare of the ranks, had argued that the Standing Orders do not supersede his fundamental right to freedom of expression.

“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,” Rohee had said in his statement, adding that Ramnarine was 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.

Rohee had further noted that Ramnarine, given his powers under the Police Act, was no ordinary citizen, while noting that he serves at the highest level of the Force.

According to Rohee, Ramnarine had chosen to set “a bad example” for the Force under cover of his constitutional rights, and Rohee had declared that Ramnarine’s actions were “careless, mutinous and unlawful.”