Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 27, 2014 Editorial
Now we have the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) trading insults and accusations in the media, not unlike the airing of dirty laundry in a public space. The situation is certainly not helped by the fact that both government agencies are integral members of the inter-agency Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs.
This unusual spat has its genesis in an alleged high-powered weapons attack on members of the GRA’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) by suspected smugglers on July 16, last.
First of all it should be made clear to the public just how the task force is supposed to function. Arguably, such an arrangement would be expected to see significant levels of collaboration evidenced by the mutual sharing of information amongst members.
It would also be a reasonable expectation that the GPF possessing superior weapons in terms of caliber and capability, would be the body to which a partner turns when operations such as the one which was mounted are planned.
It is unhelpful and does the justifiable expectations of the citizenry more harm than is good for them to hear the sort of unsubstantiated allegation being thrown about like so much corn. The current imbroglio is indicative of an arrangement where everyone is his own boss focused only on protecting their turf.
People seem to have forgotten that the positions and appointments they hold are just temporary arrangements. One would have thought that coming under chair of the Ministry of Home Affairs, that coherent Standard Operational Procedures would inform the roll out of unified smuggling and contraband interdiction efforts.
This seems not to be the case because no one in authority has proffered an explanation as to why members of the LEID apparently went off on their own, only to be confronted by the unusual situation of heavy weaponry in the hands of suspected criminals bent on protecting their investment.
What seems to be sadly lacking in the interagency environment is an established joint doctrine to best achieve coordination between the task force entities. Furthermore, what should not be forgotten is the question of effective utilization of individual agencies’ core competencies, their basic organizational structures, and related factors particularly those which provide the foundations for sustainable relationships, or potential relationships.
The current face-off between the GPF and the GRA does not signify that a high degree of comfort exists in their working relationship. Maybe the subject minister might wish to make a pronouncement in his inimitable style to bring closure to an unpleasant episode. The better option would be the two heads, namely the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner General of the GRA, publicly reassuring citizens of their continuing collaboration in doing the people’s work.
The fact remains that interagency coordination, essentially, is the interplay of multiple agencies with individual agendas.
It is not unlikely that the GRA operatives went ahead without their task force police partners because they might have felt that the sloth of bureaucracy in getting an operation off the ground would be counter-productive. In such a situation the decision would have been taken to utilize the available LEID resources going for the flexible, direct and responsive route which probably would have run counter to the police operational culture.
Unity of effort can only be achieved through close, continuous interagency coordination and cooperation, which are the necessary elements to overcome confusion over objectives, inadequate structure or procedures, and bureaucratic and personal limitations.
In short, decisive action will follow a practical understanding of realities. Therefore what must be given prominence is the importance of information within the structure of interagency operations, since it provides a distinct advantage in the decision-making process.
Finally, to avoid confusion there ought to be clear guidelines which establish whether the GPF or the GRA will be the lead agency in their joint operations. Although not inviolate, the principle of lead agency should be applied keeping the comparative situational and tactical advantage considerations in focus.
These are but a few issues that should sensibly occupy the minds of policy and operational decision makers.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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