Opposition Home Affairs Minister Geeta Chandan-Edmond has tabled numerous questions to the National Assembly regarding the operations of the new Guyana Police Corporate Communications Unit (GPF).
On February 16, 2021, radio broadcaster Stan Gouveia announced that he had been appointed Deputy Director of Communications of the GPF while former Chief Editor of the State-owned Guyana Chronicle, Mark Ramotar became Director. Gouveia and Ramotar took up their new roles effective on 1 February.
This new arrangement is a departure from standard practice whereby a serving member of the Force would take responsibility for the organisation’s public relations.
Just before the rebranded Communications Unit was set up, Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor served as Public Relations Officer (PRO). In front of him was the post of Senior Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan.
Chandan-Edmond, who represents the APNU / AFC Opposition, has asked Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn to explain the logic of establishing a new unit to manage Police communications and public relations.
In particular, he asked “Can the Honorable Minister indicate whether the newly established Corporate Communications Unit was created in accordance with Guyana Police Standing Orders? If so, can the Minister indicate which Department has been revised. If not, can the Minister state under which authority the Unit was established? ”
Minister Benn was also asked to reveal whether Director and Deputy Director posts were advertised and what criteria were used in reaching suitable candidates.
Chandan-Edmond further requested that copies of the terms of the contracts for the appointment of the Director and Deputy Director of the Corporate Communications Unit be made public.
The Opposition Member also asked the Minister for Home Affairs to disclose their qualifications, duties, and responsibilities and indicate whether the Director and Deputy Director are given allowances and other benefits, which are not included in their contracts.
Chandan-Edmond also questioned whether there are additional costs associated with the services provided by the Director and Deputy Director “for which the Government of Guyana and, by extension, taxpayers are responsible”.
She also wanted the Minister to identify whether the roles of these new employees overlap with the roles of Police officers trained and assigned to carry out these tasks.
Furthermore, Chandan-Edmond asked if other civilians are attached to the Unit.
“If so, what are their qualifications, salaries and allowances. Furthermore, were these posts advertised and what criteria were used in selecting these individuals? ”
He also asked whether police officers are operating in the Unit, and if so, for the Minister to reveal how many.
Her final question was “Can the Honorable Minister specify how many staff are appointed to this Unit?”
Minister Benn is expected to make his answers available in writing at the next sitting of the National Assembly.