FORMER Crime Chief (ag), Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston, will now take up the post of commander in Region Eight, replacing Senior Superintendent, Ramesh Ashram, who is now traffic chief.

Kingston was removed from the daily operations at the Criminal Investigations Department in the aftermath of Senior Superintendent, Wendell Blanhum, taking command as crime chief.

The hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has seen major transformation with the reassignment of a number of senior ranks under the stewardship of the new Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn.
Kingston has spent most of his life in the investigative field and has worked in a number of regions and divisions of the Force before being appointed crime chief.

While performing the duties of crime chief as a senior superintendent, Kingston was given a letter of appointment which stated that although being a senior superintendent of police, his scope and responsibility are to be regarded as that of an assistant commissioner of police.

Minister Benn had noted that more changes are expected.

Recently, the Home Affairs Minister outlined, at a briefing with members of the Joint Services, the need to implement a mechanism that allows feedback from members of the public as to their perception of the quality of service offered, especially by the Guyana Police Force.

He also noted that there needs to be an assessment and improved treatment of prisoners.

Minister Benn also noted the need for police to exercise impartiality and sensitivity in the execution of their duties, noting that Guyana is made of people from diverse religious, social and ethnic backgrounds.

The minister stated that all, without exception, be treated fairly and equally, embracing Guyana’s motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” and the need for police to continuously re-assess their performance and set targets to consistently improve their output and effectiveness.

He also emphasised that a 10-point improvement strategy for all divisions, branches and departments within the Joint Services will be implemented.

He urged that the strategy be cascaded to every station and every section within the three services as well as the need for consistent individual improvement through introspection and appropriate corrective action.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams, on Monday, proceeded on 192 days annualised vacation leave as a matter of “Public interest”.

Earlier this month, Deputy Police Commissioner, Maxine Graham, was also sent on pre-retirement leave and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, will head operations of the Guyana Police Force.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, is also on pre-retirement leave.

James was appointed Commissioner of Police back in August 2018, along with four deputy commissioners of police in the persons of Lyndon Alves, Maxine Graham, Nigel Hoppie, and Paul Williams. Alves was sent off the job in the public’s interest in 2019.