PPP hails police; calls for Crime Chief to be promoted

Last Updated on Monday, 23 May 2016, 12:20 by

After months of saying that the APNU+AFC is not doing enough to address crime in Guyana, the People’s Progressive Party is now hailing the Guyana Police Force for its work and calling for the promotion of Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.

On Monday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee said that much to their credit, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Police Force now appears to be listening finally to civilians and not believing that they know it all.

“There was a time when everything civilian was ignored and disregarded to the detriment of successful investigation and prosecution.  Making effective use of human intelligence and civilian common sense is the way to go. Dispersing CID sleuths to areas where useful information can be obtained is proving to be productive and effective,” said Rohee a former Home Affairs Minister.

“Blanhum and his team at CID, are to be commended,” Rohee declared noting that a promotion should be eminent for the Crime Chief.

“He should be considered for promotion immediately from Senior Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner of Police. The Crime Chief must at all times be of the rank of an Assistant Commissioner.  However, Blanhum must at all times refuse instructions and directives of a non-professional and political nature,” he stated.

The Former Security Minister noted that making judicious and selective use of informants with well-established networks and connections should not be underestimated. But, at all times police investigators must uphold the ethics and rules of good professional policing.

“Closer and closer collaboration between Special Branch and CID operatives has been on the agenda for the longest while, however, it now appears to have been finally consummated.  Special Branch is the main intelligence gathering unit of the Guyana Police Force. Their work must be fused with criminal intelligence if continued success is to be assured,” Rohee underscored.

Rohee’s statement comes just one day after CID would have made a major breakthrough in Babita Sarjoo’s case which had gone cold for almost 6 years.

Sarjoo, then an employee of BK International, went missing on October 4, 2010 when she left with her husband to ostensibly view a Diwali Motorcade.

The husband is among two persons expected to be charged for the crime.