Police promotions halted because entire superstructure was vulnerable – Harmon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon today said that the entire superstructure of the Police Force was likely to be affected by some actions which were taking place and that forced President David Granger to ask the Police Service Commission (PSC) to halt all promotions.

“The security of this state is the responsibility of the government and the President is the person ultimately responsible and anything which seeks to damage the fabric of our security Forces is a matter which his Excellency takes seriously…because it affects citizens’ security,” Harmon said at today’s weekly Post Cabinet News Briefing, held at the studios of State TV NCN, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

In explaining his decision, the President had stated: “We just need time to have the complaints from aggrieved Police Officers thoroughly investigated.”

Harmon said that the President felt it was in the public’s interest for him to take the controversial decision, which has now been challenged in the High Court as being unconstitutional.

“If it has to do with the Police, if it has to do with the GDF (Guyana Defence Force), if it has to do with the Fire Service or any of these Forces which have a direct impact on security of the state or the defence of our sovereignty, I want to give this assurance that this is a matter which is taken very seriously,” Harmon stated.

The Minister denied suggestions that the President acted capriciously by asking the PSC to halt the promotions.

“The President acts after clear and deliberate consultations with head of the services,” Harmon stated.

The legal proceedings against the constitutionality of the President’s decision to ask for a halt of the promotions was filed by Rajendra R Jaigobin, who asserted that representatives who, and the democratic organs which, exercise the sovereignty of Guyana on his behalf act in due compliance with the said Constitution in the discharge of their public functions and constitutional duties.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party has denounced the President’s decision, quoting Article 226 (1) of the Constitution which dictates that constitutionally mandated Commission “shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.”

In explaining his decision, the President had stated: “There have been some doubts and we are investigating the complaints that have been made to us and we have asked the PSC simply to delay so that we can answer those queries.”