Beyond promotions, President promises resources and respect for Police Force

Beyond sweeping promotions for over 2,000 ranks, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that his government will go further, promising to restore pride, dignity and the right resources to the Guyana Police Force, saying officers will no longer have to “beg for water.”

Addressing ranks at the Police Officers’ Mess on Wednesday morning, the President’s remarks made clear that the ongoing transformation of the Force goes far beyond promotions and pay. He said the government is committed to creating the right professional environment, backed by accountability and investment, to ensure officers are respected and effective.

“A police officer told me recently he had to run behind a vehicle to beg for water. That is unacceptable. That is going to end. You will never again have to function in a system like that,” the President declared to applause.

The statement marked one of many strong comments from the President as he called for a shift in culture within the Force, urging officers to take collective responsibility for the assets, image and performance of their stations and divisions.

Dr. Ali stressed that while promotions were important, they were just the start of a broader reform effort. He said investments would continue in police stations, equipment, transportation and facilities.

He explained that police leadership must be accountable from top to bottom: “From the commander of Brickdam to the classroom officer, everyone must take responsibility for what happens in their space.”

He announced that evaluations will no longer be based solely on individual merit but will include collective assessments of how well stations manage government-issued assets and deliver services to the public.

“If the station doesn’t take care of its equipment and doesn’t function professionally, that will affect everyone’s promotion—not just one person,” he warned.

The President also encouraged officers to pursue further education and training, revealing that new scholarship opportunities and support systems will be implemented. He said it was important for officers to build careers that give them dignity and respect, whether they remain in the Force or retire.

“By the time you retire at 55, I want you to walk out of this organisation as a qualified, confident and respected professional who can work anywhere in the world,” Dr. Ali said.

He highlighted that the government had already removed the degree requirement for promotions at certain levels but now wanted officers to embrace continuous learning of their own volition.

In one of his most pointed remarks, President Ali criticised what he described as a longstanding culture in which basic supplies—like water and working vehicles—were luxuries instead of guaranteed necessities.

He insisted that officers must no longer be subjected to such neglect, adding, “This is a professional career, not a hustle. If we expect performance, we must provide the tools and the dignity.”

The President called on the Force’s leadership to ensure that the benefits of Guyana’s economic transformation—including oil revenues—translate into real improvements in the working conditions and morale of police officers.

Dr. Ali reiterated that the relationship between the police and the public must be built on trust and respect. He encouraged officers to lead by example in both their professional conduct and personal behaviour.

“This is about building a police force that earns the respect of our people—because it is professional, accountable, and well-resourced. That is the Guyana we are building.”