Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 07, 2009 News
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – “I never envisaged my career in the Guyana Police Force ending in such an abrupt manner after only 17 years of service. Basically I saw myself retiring from a senior position many years down the road.”
The words of a broken man, whose dreams were shattered by his drive for self-development.
On Friday the Administration Officer of the Guyana Police Force gave Superintendent Simon McBean his marching orders in Georgetown.
The document signed by the Secretary of the Police Service Commission, J. Jaisingh stated, inter alia, that his unauthorised participation in an overseas course breached several regulations/standard procedures and hence his dismissal.
It took effect from December 25th 2007.
McBean believes that Police Commissioner, Henry Greene had nothing to do with his dismissal.
“When I came back up to the time of my dismissal, I encountered no administrative hiccups,” he told Kaieteur News.
The regular procedure is that the Commissioner of Police initiates the recommendation and forwards it to the Police Service Commission.
Minutes after receiving his letter of dismissal, McBean met with Greene.
He however declined to disclose the details of that meeting during an interview with members of the media last Friday, only pointing out that it was personal in nature.
McBean was the third in command of Division ‘B’ (Berbice) of the Guyana Police Force up to the time he was dismissed.
“My only regret is that I did not get the opportunity to disseminate the knowledge I received during the year I spent in training in the United Kingdom. It is an injustice to the public we serve. During my years of service, I gave only my best. I well and truly served my country to the best of my ability.”
The 35-year old was convinced he was destined for higher heights, moreso, after gaining exposure at training sessions in Guyana that were conducted by the British Government in 2005.
“It was then I became cognizant that policing had more to offer than our local knowledge. My hunger for self-development grew and I began scouring around for any scholarship that could satisfy my new desire.”
For McBean, the Guyana Police Force would remain, at all times, close to the heart of this consummate professional, hence, there is no animosity towards anyone. He hopes the force grows from strength to strength.
Adopting the full sense and true meaning of the Community Policing initiative topped the list of ways McBean suggested to improve the Guyana Police Force.
He believes that the administration must adhere to the philosophy and practices of the real Community Policing idea.
Additionally, members of the public and the police must work in tandem to identify and solve societal problems.
The decisions should not be made solely by the administration of the force but with the input of the people within the community.
“This means broadening the mandate of the Police Force from that as crime fighters to that of problem solvers with the members of the community as major stakeholders.”
Another idea he has, deals with the need to implement the recommendations of the Scottish and Simmon’s Reports, which are geared to improve the Guyana Police Force and would transform it into an up-to-the-minute one.
Simon McBean, of Phillipi Farm on the Corentyne, enlisted in the Guyana Police Force on April 1st, 1992.
Training immediately commenced at the Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ at Adventure on the Corentyne.
In August 1993, he was identified to undergo the Standard Officers’ Course (Cadet Officers’ Course) Number 24 at Camp Stephenson, Timehri.
One of the memories he is taking with him is when he was selected to participate in this 1993 programme. He called that ten-month stint, the turning point of his career.
Later he was posted to the Tactical Services Unit in Georgetown.
In 1998, McBean was transferred to the Immigration Section at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri, where he held the rank of Assistant Superintendent.
The following year, 1999, saw him heading to Division ‘A’ as the Second-in-Command of the Number One Sub-Division and Impact Base.
His tour of duty ended there in 2001 after he was re-located to Division ‘B’ during the Albion fiasco.
At that time, there were several riots in the village.
Rogue elements torched a Magistrate’s car and attempted to burn the Albion Police Station in addition to other acts.
He spent the next four years at the Number One Sub-Division in Berbice.
During this period he climbed the ladder to Deputy Superintendent and in 2004 moved up another rung to Superintendent.
The following year saw him at the Tactical Services Unit in the capital city.
When a gang of heavily armed men stormed Rose Hall Town and robbed the Demerara and Republic Banks on Friday August 11th 2006 of some $80 million and used human beings as road blocks, Simon McBean was dispatched immediately to Berbice.
There he headed the tactical and operational teams that led to the recovery of some $26 million, eight AK 47 assault rifles, a Beretta, an M-70 rifle, a quantity of ammunition and other paraphernalia and left eight gunmen dead.
In 2007, he functioned as the Operations’ Officer of the Super Eight Phase of the Cricket World Cup at the National Stadium at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara. Subsequently he was selected to head the contingent from the Guyana Police Force to Barbados.
Before McBean and his troop left these shores, the decision was taken for him to be the Joint Task Force Commander of the visiting forces for the semi-finals and Deputy Commander for the finals.
Over in the sister CARICOM country, their role was to lend support to the Royal Barbados Police Force.
Reflecting on his tour of duty in the ‘Land of the Flying Fish’ McBean explained that they were on the ball 24 hours daily for the entire 19 days spent.
“We had to assist in policing all cricket venues, key and vulnerable points and tourism related activities. I also had to manage the human resource support to Barbados.”
At the conclusion, Team Guyana was saluted by CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington.
“It was my first overseas mission, and I was honoured to be afforded the opportunity to represent my country at such a forum where I got a chance to manage forces with different cultures.”
When Team Guyana returned home they were each presented certificates of participation.
Touching on the incident that led to his broken dreams, he recalled, in November 2006, an advertisement was placed in one of the daily newspapers.
This was for participants for a Chevenning Scholarship in the United Kingdom.
“I applied, and in June 2007, received confirmation that I was short listed for interviews.”
He was among the final six of the 251 applicants.
The Chevenning Scholarship is an annual one for those in Commonwealth countries.
At the final interview in May 2007, he learnt he was the chosen one for Guyana.
“That is a moment, I’ll never forget. I was elated and saw my career taking off to new heights.”
But prior to it all he had applied for study leave in May 2007 and two months later his request was denied.
This did not daunt his spirit. He took another shot at it and July 31, he sought permission to be granted nine months leave without pay.
“I offered to be treated as a bonded scholar on my return, but to date I have received no reply to my request. I proceeded on my course under the impression that the no-pay leave would have been granted.”
He had 112 days annualised vacation which had accumulated during the 2005-2007 period.
Using this, McBean boarded a Caribbean Airlines flight on September 24th, 2007 on his way to Barbados and later British Airways to Gatwick International Airport in London.
The 12-month Masters of Science, Global Security and Policing Course, commenced on October 1 at the University of Leicester.
Three months later (in December) it dawned on him that his application may have indeed been rejected.
“From the day I applied to after my arrival in the UK, I constantly made contact to find out what was the position with my no-pay leave. Each time I was told that no response was given as yet. I became worried. The tension wondering what was in store for me coupled with the studies led to a stressful situation. I was forced to seek medical attention and was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress.”
He was advised to remain in the United Kingdom for medical treatment.
The doctor recommended that he complete his course and that was supposed to work as a form of therapy along with the other medication.
The classes finished on September 14th, 2008.
He returned to Guyana with Merit in Masters of Science Degree in Global Security and Policing the said day and resumed duty on September 15th.
“No one told me I had done anything wrong based on my absence and the sick leave. I was conformable. The first indication that all was not well was in January when I was not promoted. The next signal was when I applied for my duty free concession. I had made the request more than three months earlier and unlike previous occasions and in comparison to other persons, it took an extra long time. No one had given me a definite answer.”
After a certain time frame elapsed, he paid the duty for a newly imported vehicle after selling the old one.
Meanwhile, when questioned about the effect this situation is having on his family, McBean noted that his wife, Michelle Semple-McBean is disappointed at the outcome. “She knew what the Police Force meant to me and the efforts, the commitment I would have put into my job. So for it to be taken away at this point is hard on us all. My family advised me to use the experience gained in the force as a stepping stone to upward mobility.”
The father of one intends to pursue the matter in a court of law.
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