By Michael Khan

TWO ranks of the New Amsterdam Town Constabulary have found themselves on the opposite side of the law and their superiors are now seeking their removal from the department.

During the month of November, one rank was accused of stealing a cellular phone from his colleague, and after an investigation and the tracking of the device by its owner, a report was made to the police. Subsequently, the gizmo was recovered, and the errant rank pleaded for the matter to come to an end without repercussions. He is currently on suspension, pending a full investigation into his misconduct.

In another bizarre incident, the Head of the Town Constabulary, Inspector Paul Beaton, reported to the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) during its monthly statutory meeting on Monday that a constable was accused of being under the influence of alcohol while performing guard duty at the residence of the town’s mayor, Wainwright McIntosh. Additionally, the rank has been accused of smoking what was suspected to be cannabis sativa while on the job.

There were other complaints of harassment of market vendors for goods and financial favours, assault of persons within the municipality, and insubordination by the rank, whose identity was disclosed during the statutory meeting.

He too was suspended from duty, pending an investigation.

Mayor McIntosh was very disappointed to learn that members of the town constabulary have failed to uphold the law, by choosing to perpetrate acts that would bring the department into a state of disrepute. However, it was the Deputy Mayor, Kirk Fraser, who called for a thorough investigation.

Fraser told the Guyana Chronicle that the M&TC does not have the authority to hire or dismiss anyone, since that is the responsibility of the Local Government Commission.

“We cannot have these people being entrusted with the security of our town. They’re liabilities to the department, and in violation of the oath they took upon hiring,” he said.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) town councillor, Oneika Ramsuchit, after being made aware of the incident during the meeting, was in full support of her colleague.

“I fully support the recommendation for their dismissal. We cannot have people in uniform [constables] who are not abiding by the Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District Councils Act,” she stressed.

Councillors Busta Wright, Polliann Schultz, Nicola Luther, and Cordel Austin, all agreed with their colleagues, and advised that Inspector Beaton submit all reports to the Human Resource Department, so that the Local Government Commission can be written to for further action to be taken.