Police service commissioners must be replaced before this year’s promotions, Opposition Leader says ready for consultations with President

Last Updated on Monday, 9 February 2026, 23:04 by Writer

Efforts would have to be made to fill vacancies in the Police Service Commission (PSC), following the deaths of the Chairman and an ordinary commissioner, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira said on Monday.

“We’ll have to look at appointing additional people to the Commission so I am not sure the Commission with two people can function and make the decisions without at least the Chairman being there,” she said.

During consideration of estimates of expenditure for the GY$1.558 trillion dollar national budget, she said the PSC would not be meeting at this time because of the passing of PSC Chairman Patrick Findlay on January 30 and ordinary commissioner Lloyd Conway more than one year ago.

Ms Teixeira said another 645 members of the Guyana Police Force are expected to be promoted this year, based on vacancies, retirement or otherwise leaving that civilian law enforcement agency. “It could be more. It could be less,” she said.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed told Demerara Waves Online News that he is ready for consultations with the President in keeping with Guyana’s Constitution.

“The National Assembly has to identify its nominee to fill the vacancy in the police service commission. Once that vacancy is filled then the president has to meaningfully consult with me as to who ought to be appointed Chairman. I look forward to this process being commenced so that this institution can be functional again,” he said.

The Constitution states that the President appoint a PSC Chairman after “meaningful consultation” with the Leader of the Opposition from among the four members appointed by the President upon nomination by the National Assembly after it has consulted such bodies as appear to it to represent the majority of the members of the Police Force and any other such body it deems fit.

The Police Association was last consulted by President Irfaan Ali before appointing the four commissioners.

The new Leader of the Opposition following the September 1 general and regional elections is the leader of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Mr Mohamed.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is on record as saying that it was not in favour of Mr Mohamed becoming opposition leader because he is wanted by the United States to face trial for alleged wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering linked to his gold trading business.

Mr Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were sanctioned by the US for alleged gold smuggling resulting in the alleged defrauding of the Guyana government of more than US$50 million.