– Min. Ramjattan

PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan ruled out political interference in the removal of Senior Police Superintendent, Wendell Blanhum, as the country’s crime chief.
Blanhum, upon his return from leave recently, was temporarily reassigned as Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara), and now operates under Assistant Commissioner of Police, Marlon Chapman, who is the commander.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Williams, who was commander of “B” Division (Berbice) is acting as crime chief.
In the National Assembly on Thursday, the public security minister, during the ongoing budget debates, told the House that the decision was made solely by the acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine.

Minister Ramjattan said even though the Senior Police Superintendent in his capacity as crime chief was doing a “fantastic job”, the decision lies with the Commissioner of Police. The minister recalled that when he took office, the then Crime Chief, Leslie James, was replaced by Blanhum on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.
“If Mr Ramnarine now would like to move Blanhum from there, what’s the big deal?” he told members on both sides of the House. He made it clear that the Government will not interfere in the operations of the Force.

“We are not going to interfere with the leadership of that Police Force; we are not going to interfere like how interference used to be in previous times. We are going to do it very professionally,” he assured the House.

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger had called for Blanhum to be replaced, citing poor leadership and questioning his role in the successes in solving crimes under his watch.

The Paul Slowe-led CoI chided Blanhum for his failure to properly supervise the investigation as instructed by the acting commissioner; not conducting due diligence on a report containing factual errors sent to the National Security Council (NSC); neglect of duty; and insubordination. “… Blanhum should be replaced as crime chief and reassigned in order to gain command experience,” the report recommended.

Blanhum was the first person in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to receive information in relation to the plot to assassinate the President.

President Granger had indicated that the Commission of Inquiry had exposed serious deficiencies and weaknesses in the Force, and these will be corrected. He had noted that the CoI was not meant to be a witch-hunt but work has to be done to ensure that the law enforcement agency is more professional and efficient in the execution of its duties and responsibilities.