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Jul 02, 2014 News
– Priest urges ranks not to abuse power
By Abena Rockcliffe
The Guyana Police Force yesterday commenced a series of activities to commemorate its 175th anniversary as an organization with the annual drumhead service.
Ranks in attendance would be speaking in the absolute absence of truth if they say that the service offered no motivation for them to better serve and protect the nation as the force’s motto suggests.
Most senior ranks were present with the notable exception of the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud and “A” division Commander, Clifton Hicken.
The programme was chaired by Assistant Commissioner, Balram Persaud who told his colleagues that “the thought that we are above the law must not enter our minds…We must not break the law to uphold the law; regardless of provocation.”
Reverend Murtland Massiah of the First Assembly of God delivered a pertinent message to those who gathered, urging them to let humility go hand in hand with the power that has been entrusted upon them.
Massiah opined that each member of the force is a leader and urged that the emulation of leadership qualities should not be left solely up to those in authority. He encouraged members of the organization to strive to leave the force better than they met it.
Massiah was very deliberate in delivering his message as he tied each point into how the force can be developed and by extension develop the nation. The Reverend used Amos, a “country man” from the Bible, who went to town and lamented the state of things there. He said that Amos had a message and it was a “blistering one, not one that caused people to clap.”
Massiah said that Amos’s message was one that had to do with taking up the mantle of responsibility.
The Reverend preached that the sign of manhood is not bread, the ability to impregnate or the change in voice. He said a male’s manhood is measured based upon the level of responsibility he is prepared to accept.
According to Massiah, “the tragedy in today’s society is the fact that many males grow old without becoming a man”. With that, the reverend called upon each unit to show responsibility as a form of maturity.
He then touched on impartiality and fair judgment. The religious leader said that God in his judgment will always be impartial and since “we are made in his image and likeness, why then can’t we seek to be impartial?” With that he urged ranks to judge each community impartially.
He told the ranks that citizens must see them and feel comfortable and have a sense that their presence does not represent evil, but good and responsible thoughts and actions.
The preacher encouraged that best practices be worked down to a science that each rank can “rattle off” in his or her sleep, “it must be known within.”
He said that once those values form a structure within, ranks are most likely to emulate them when on operations.
More importantly, he warned against the proud and the abuse of power. When the reverend touched on this, some of those who gathered shouted, “amen” and “preach it.”
He told the gathering that some ordinary people who have been entrusted with power have lost themselves, and as a result, are of no good use to society. He said that he witnessed ranks attempt to misuse powers, “we must understand we are dealing with other human beings and that God despises the proud”
He advised that the more power a human has, the more humble he or she should walk.
The Reverend referred to an instant when US President Barack Obama walked across a park with his jacket over his shoulder meeting and greeting people; allowing them to take pictures as they rushed to him. He said Obama walks in humility.
Massiah then asked the gathering, “How do you walk, Do people feel they can run to you? In questioning them he asked that they bear in mind that they don’t have one fourth of the power that President Obama has.
The religious leader urged the ranks not to use power as a mallet over citizens’ heads but as an opportunity to grow.
“You all are standing on the shoulders of those who worked before and built a foundation, so if you think you are self-made I am sorry for you.”
He warned, also, against hypocrisy and alluded to the biblical story when Jesus told his followers that it is good to pay tithes and sow seeds, but told them that focus must be placed on the more weighty matters like justice and mercy. He said based upon this teaching, the force must ensure that there isn’t a different standard for the poor when it comes to justice and mercy.
Massiah urged that ranks show their human side, lend a helping hand and judge fairly as, “on Judgment Day all, no matter the race or religion, whether you believe in God or not, the rich and the poor will be judged. Those who are accustomed to having a lawyer must remember that there will be none that day as the Counsel will be preparing his own brief”.
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