-Brutus tells PAC

WITH the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yet to recover some $2.2 million overpaid to ranks during the 2010 to 2012 period, Senior Superintendent of Police, Calvin Brutus, has noted that most of the major overpayments were due to the slow transmission of information to the accounting department.

Brutus addressed the issue which was recorded in the 2012 Auditor General’s report at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday in the Parliament Chamber.
He noted that the issue of overpayments arises when ranks resign, are absent without leave (AWOL) or are terminated from the job for abandoning their posts.
Brutus said that in most cases when ranks are terminated or opt to resign, a system is expected to be followed to ensure that the force’s accounting department puts a stop to the monthly salary payments.

While noting that about eight ranks go AWOL every month, he explained to the committee that after a 72-hour period of no contact from a rank has elapsed, the superior officer at that rank’s post is required to report it and record same as dereliction of duty, Brutus said.

He added: “The system of reporting and the actually [sic] paper report that comes after 72 hours… a report of the person’s absent [sic] is expected to be at headquarters for action. If that fails, then measures are taken against ranks responsible, whether it be a sergeant or the sub-divisional officers. Actions are taken against them for failing to show that the report is compiled and sent for action.”

He indicated that strategic steps are being taken by the force to ensure that preventive measures are undertaken.
Brutus stated that since August 2020, the force has instituted a system of “call reporting” that is being utilised as a way to minimise the wait time for transmission of information.
He added that this new system allows for the ranks or officers-in-charge to transmit preliminary information to senior officials in the GPF on ranks who are AWOL, prior to sending out their completed written up report.

He noted that in many cases across the country this system is the most efficient and time- effective way of ensuring that the force’s finance department obtains accurate and timely information on employment and payment, so as to mitigate the issue of overpayment to persons who are no longer in the employ of the GPF.