[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Guyana government has sought to clear its name as it relates to the promotion of two police officers who were charged with torturing a 15 – year – old boy in 2008 at the Leonora Police Station.
A press statement from the Office of the Attorney General stated that the Executive played no part in the decision making process of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in the promotion of Mohanran Dolai and Narine Lall.
Dolai was recently promoted to Corporal while Lall was promoted to Inspector.
“The Executive plays no part in the recruitment, promotion, appointment or discipline of members of the Guyana Police Force, other than the Commissioner of Policeand Deputy Commissioner. Indeed, these are matters from which the Executive is specifically insulated by provisions of the Constitution and the Police Act,” the statement explained.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon told Reporters at a post cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, January 28 that the PSC provided a satisfactory explanation to Cabinet justifying the promotion of the police officers.
However, the statement by the Attorney General noted that “The view of the Government expressed through Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, related to the procedure in respect of the promotions and was not a comment in respect of the merits or demerits of the promotions. In short, It was confined to the decision making process and not the decision.”
In 2008, both ranks were charged with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm by burning the genitals of 15-year-old Twyon Thomas. The teenager was arrested in connection with the death of then Region Three Vice Chairman, Ramenaught Bisram.
The case against them was dismissed after the teenager did not show up in Court to testify.
Below is the press statement in full issued by the Attorney General:
Press Release
By the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs
Date- 29th of January, 2015,
______________________________________________________________________________
The Public Service Commission and the Commissioner of Police have promoted Sergeant Lall regulation number 14526 and Constable Dulai regulation number 19028 to the rank of Inspector and Corporal, respectively. The promotion of these two ranks has resulted in much public commentary.
Background
Sergeant Lall and Constable Dulaiwere the subject of an investigation that resulted in criminal charges being instituted by the Director of Public Prosecutions against these two policemen. Also, a Constitutional Motion was subsequently filed by Twyon Thomas against the Attorney General of Guyana in respect thereof. Twyon Thomas was arrested on the 27th October, 2009, in relation to an investigation of an alleged murder of one RamenauthBisram which had occurred sometime on or around the 26th October, 2009. Twyon Thomas alleged that he was taken to Leonora Police Station and he was allegedly tortured by Constable Dulai and Sergeant Lall.
Sergeant Lall and Constable Dulai were charged by the Director of Public Prosecutions and during the pendency of the trial before the Magistrate’s Court, both Sergeant Lall and Constable Dulai were interdicted from duty. These charges were subsequently dismissed for want of prosecution. In the result the interdictions were removed.
The legal proceedings filed against the Attorney General, culminated in an award of damages which was duly paid by the State.
No role by the Executive
The Executive plays no part in the recruitment, promotion, appointment or discipline of members of the Guyana Police Force, other than the Commissioner of Policeand Deputy Commissioner. Indeed, these are matters from which the Executive is specifically insulated by provisions of the Constitution and the Police Act.
Article 212 (1) of the Constitution vests in the Police Service Commission the power to make appointments to any offices in the Police Force of or above the rank of Inspector, the power to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices and the power to remove such persons from office. Article 212 (2) resides similar powers in the Commissioner of Police in respect of officers in the Police Force below the rank of Inspector.
The Police Service Commission consists of five members, namely, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and four other persons, nominated by the National Assembly (Article 210 of the constitution).
In the discharge of its functions, the Commission enjoys constitutionally enshrined independence and autonomy which is captured in the imperative language of Article 226 (1) “…in the exercise of its functions under this constitution, a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority.”
Decision making process, not the decision
The notion, therefore, being peddled in some sections of the media that the Government participated, authorized or concurred with these promotions are simply without any foundation. The view of the Government expressed through Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, related to the procedure in respect of the promotions and was not a comment in respect of the merits or demerits of the promotions. In short, It was confined to the decision making process and not the decision.
Which minister was present when the torturing was carried out and which minister or PPP representative defended the policemen in court. It was AFC’s Ramjattan failed to present a strong case against the policemen so they could have been dismissed. Ramjattan’s intention was only to uplift the compensation.
If Ramotar is to do something then he would be influencing the functions of the PSC. That is dictatorship. That was Burnham’s methodology and his methods was very unfruitful for the citizen.
if IT was Ramotar son, it would have been a different story. what you don’t like for your self you should not like for others. That young man’s life is ruined. He will never have children or enjoy one of life greatest pleasure because of those bastards. But they get to go on with their lives and even get promoted with the ability to earn more money while that child is stuck with his useless life.SHAME ON RAMOTAR SHAME ON ALL PPP/C MEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THOSE PROMOTIONS. SHAME ON THE PSC COMMISSION. THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR TORTURE A FEW YOUNG PEOPLE IF YOU ARE A POLICEMAN AND YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING PROMOTED IS A SURE THING.
I AM ASHAMED OF THIS GOVERNMENT AND OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PSC COMMISSION. DO SOMETHING RAMOTAR DO SOMETHING. STOP THE PROMOTIONS.
those police men were not acquitted. they were found guilty of torturing that young man. That young man will never have a normal life why should they be promoted. It is like rubbing salt in the child’s wounds. The PSC is letting Guyanese know that policemen can torture them and they do not care, they will promote them anyway. How can that be right in the sight of God. The young man will never have children, now he has to watch those bastards life gets elevated and his own in the dumps.
The were bastard policeman were promoted BECAUSE THE PPP/C CARE that young children should be tortured.
Hey Pandit Andrew Salim, you’re pointing your hippocratic, nail clubbing fingers at our police again and at the same time want to impersonate the same police. Who is the dog now? You’re so shameless that you’re blogging with many names and got exposed. Are you also Lila? How much is Williams paying you to shine Felix shoes? City Hall need constable, you should apply.
What does ISIS have to do with Guyana’s politics. The only thing saving Granger and Greenidge from going to jail is the MP position.
Thees people have a lot to answer for, they kill Donna Mckenon and got away with it,they brand Granger with names these ppl have to go to JAIL. Jai you have very little choice defending a government that is just like the all them taliban groups, its only time before you snakes if you not supporting the ISIS already, you people make Burnham look like a POPE,,those two killers should be in jail just like the rest of cops.
That makes the police Service Commission useless. If you have an objective to fulfill why go out of your Box to complicate your objective.
Those two police were charge, arraigned and face the court and was acquitted what else do we want, BLOOD! Should we hang them? The victim wants nothing more but a discontinuance of the matter. Those humans were exonerated and deserve to live so let them. Look at Felix, YES Winston Felix, no one is trying to kill him or stop him from living or from being promoted. The PNC wish for him to be a Minister of home affairs.
Should we do what Burnham did to his one time officer Mr. Cecil “skip” Roberts?
The AFC wants to make more money from the case. Wicked!
The Police Service Commission is not above the Presidents Office nor the Attorney General Office or it’s Executives. Therefore why not consult with such and have the promotions rescinded.
That’s a load of hog wash. Just simply demote the men and their superiors who made the decision.
They have caused enough embarrassment to our beloved Guyana already