…Ramjattan says full investigation launched into allegations against crime chief

IN the aftermath of damning allegations against Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lyndon Alves, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said “We have everything in control, even he who is at the very highest when they misbehave; we are going to conduct investigations.”

He said the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the matter and upon completion, legal advice will be sought on the way forward. Ramjattan said Alves will remain suspended until the investigation is completed by the OPR.

“Statements will be taken from the police who were aware of the allegations; they will be questioned and, thereafter, legal advice will be sought…we have everything in control and that even he who is at the very highest, when they misbehave, we are going to conduct investigation to find out whether it is the truth. A good administration gets to the truth, and this is what you do all the time. We are not going to have a perfect Police Force, just like any Police Force in the world,” Ramjattan said on the sidelines of an event at the Forensic Lab at Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on Wednesday.

The Crime Chief was suspended effective Monday, June 24, 2019, to facilitate a full investigation into allegations of corruption levelled against him. “And that is not anything untoward…if he is cleared he will come back there, if he is not, well fine. The President…will make certain decisions,” Ramjattan said.

Expressing his confidence in the OPR investigative capacity and integrity given that Alves is a Deputy Commissioner, Ramjattan said, “I am very comfortable with the OPR, who you want us to put? That is always going to happen, people will have trouble with anybody, but we have to build institutions in Guyana to the extent of letting them get integrity and reputation and unless we start doing that, nothing will grow in Guyana…”

The security minister made it clear that hundreds of investigations done by the OPR have been respected. Over the last few weeks, police ranks have been engaging sections of the media detailing alleged corrupt practices by their colleagues who have been allegedly receiving protection from very senior police officers within the Guyana Police Force. Allegations also include the police protection of drug dealers and bribes to get court cases dismissed.

Over the weekend, it was alleged that one drug dealer paid a rank over one million dollars, as an advance, to harm a colleague rank who was a witness in a court case. Berbicians, including representatives of the private sector and from the region, had appealed for the President to take action in what they said was a runaway situation.