SENIOR Superintendents of Police Lyndon Alves, Dale Alves, Paul Williams, Nigel Hoppie and Ian Amsterdam have been tipped for promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police, while ‘G’ Division Commander, Superintendent Kevin Adonis, is to be promoted to Senior Superintendent of Police, sources close to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have confirmed.

Joining Adonis is Karim Baksh, second in command of the ‘C’ Division; Huge Jessemy, Deputy Crime Chief; and Hugh Denhert, Officer in Charge of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU).

Guyana Chronicle understands that the Police Service Commission (PSC) has submitted to President David Granger, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; and Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud the list of persons who are to be promoted. The official announcement of the promotions is likely to be made in the new week.

Last October, days after Opposition spokesman on security, Clement Rohee, had urged that the promotion of police ranks be put on hold due to a number of pending disciplinary matters, the PSC had announced that it was putting a hold on the promotions.

The PSC, however, in justifying its move, said the list of nominees for elevation reached it late. Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had said then that the delay in the announcement of the promotions would negatively impact the Force and its ranks.

The Police Service Commission is responsible for promoting senior police officers from the ranks of Sergeant to that of Assistant Commissioner of Police. There are within the Guyana Police Force two promotion boards that deal with ranks at the level of corporal to sergeants. This board is referred to as the Junior Promotion Board; while the Senior Promotion Board looks into recommendations for promotion of persons from the rank of Sergeant to that of Assistant Commissioner of Police. That board is headed by the Police Commissioner.

Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Omesh Satyanand, had said that decision to delay promotions was taken on December 21 at a specially convened meeting with the commissioners after they had received the recommendation list for promotion from the Police Force. Satyanand had also said the delay would facilitate the PSC membership to properly peruse the files of the police officers shortlisted to be promoted.

He said, too, that the PSC wanted to ensure that when publicized, the list would be clean and credible, and as such the Commission needs to take as much time as possible to ensure same.