Promotions by Ramnarine remain
Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud
Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

ALL police promotions made by Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine in October will remain in force, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters on Thursday during his post-Cabinet press briefing.

Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine
Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

Minister Harmon noted that Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has been informed of the position taken by the administration.
“… he produced a legal opinion that said those officers who were promoted by Mr Ramnarine are to remain promoted …the promotions should not be recalled. That was the minister’s report to Cabinet,” said Harmon.

Between August 15 and October 1, Ramnarine, performing duties as Commissioner of Police, promoted Corporal Wilburg to sergeant; and the following persons to corporals: Woman Lance Corporal 18997 Fraser; Lance Corporal 8749 Kuma, and Constable 18803 Craig.
Additionally, between August 3 and September 26, 2016, Ramnarine promoted the following constables to Lance Corporals: 18495 Gray, 20521 Semple, 21759 Kesney, and 21825 Thomas.
The Police Commissioner had proceeded on leave in June and on his resumption early November, he immediately sought to reverse Ramnarine’s decisions. In a letter to Staff Officer Administration 1, Maxine Graham, Persaud called for the rescission of the promotions Ramnarine had made, and drew the officer’s attention to Article 212 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana, noting that the Commissioner of Police is authorised to make appointments to any office in the Police Force below the rank of inspector.

He also quoted Article 211 (i) of the said Constitution, which he said indicates that the appointment of the Commissioner of Police is done by His Excellency, the President.
“The police chief, Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine, has misinformed himself that he has the authority to make any such appointment in the absence of an instrument issued by His Excellency the President. The appointments are therefore null and void, and the ranks should be so informed,” Persaud ordered.
Persaud’s position was not accepted by Ramnarine nor President David Granger. President Granger during a television interview has said that Ramnarine was not expected to serve in the position idly.

“The Assistant Commissioner of Police had to take some authoritative actions and just could not sit on his hands if problems need to be solved. He needs to solve the problem.
“Although there is a hierarchy and although there is a structure, there is also a convention that persons who are acting have to do their work in an authoritative manner and not in a passive manner. I do not believe that the problems are unsolvable and I would like to assure you that we are concerned about it, because it could have an impact on the morale of the Police Force,” Granger had said.

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