The Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations said they recognize the unfortunately challenging environment that faces our Guyanese police colleagues. It is our view that this level of skullduggery and high-handed behaviour by the administrators of the Police Service is designed to the detriment of the legitimately elected body led by Inspector Rosanne Forde.
The CFPWA’s position is clear that elections of the association must be free, fair, and transparent, consistent with the prescribed rules. The level of gamesmanship displayed by the administrators of the Guyana Police Force on May 11th, 2021 is deeply regrettable. This has left much to be desired, and it does not portray who we are as Caribbean Police Officers. This is a dark day in the history of Caribbean Policing and definitely for welfare.
In a release to the media the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations said it is concerned with the fact that the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus usurped the responsibility of the legitimate Chairman and called an election without the knowledge of the sitting Chairman Inspector Forde. Further the CFPWA said they were also concerned that the Acting Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie DSM on May 11th, 2021 declared both elections null and void then backpeddled and accepted the results of an illegitimate election. The Federation is seriously concerned that a Commissioner of Police who must have some appreciation for the rule of law would acquiesce at a retrenchment of a legitimately elected body mandated to serve its three-year tenure. This is not our finest hour as long as this miscarriage of justice is accepted. The CFPWA will not evade the grim reality. The question remains unanswered as to what empowers the Commissioner of Police to retrench a legitimately elected body by some 293 days when Section 10 (3) of the Association Rules empowers the Association to serve for three years. It is on this basis the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Association refuses to acknowledge the illegal and illegitimate association derived from such elections. This improper conduct by the administrators of the force must be immediately addressed and we call on the Police Service Commission, the Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Robenson Benn and the Attorney General Hon Anil Nandlall to abort the apparent cacophony of systemic institutional misconduct and miscarriage of justice engineered by the Acting Commissioner of Police and his administrators. We support and urge our officers to maintain and display the highest levels of professional standards in their service delivery while exercising restraint without any compromise to personal health and safety. Two elections were held on May 11th, eight months before the constitutional requirement.