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Mar 22, 2012 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
In all democracies there are statues that promote and protect the freedom of speech. Within most democracies there are organizations that also seek in the interest of society, to restrict freedom of speech at special times and for, sometimes, stipulated periods of time. More often, we find the courts deciding to bar attorneys, jurors and other participants in a case from speaking about details of that case. This is called a Gag Order. Failure of individuals to observe clearly outlined and defined restrictions to freedom of speech are liable to pay dearly, often through unadorned prosecution.
Recently an American soldier went on a shooting spree in Afghanistan killing 16 innocent civilians including children. This prompted severe protest and retaliation from the Afghan people, including the Taliban. In the interest of security, the US Army did not find it necessary to immediately release the name of this soldier while he was in transit in the Middle East on his way home to the US. This does not suggest that members of the media did not know the soldier or his name. But what happened was that his name was withheld from all initial media reports until he had arrived safely in the US and was securely held.
Someone within the US Army or perhaps the media could have taken it upon himself or herself to release that soldier’s name because they believe in the freedom of speech and the people’s right to know.
The Guyana Police Force has recently been instructed with standing orders by its top administrators, preventing its members, more so its senior officers, from speaking openly to the media or any other party on any issue concerning the Force. While many might find the introduction of these standing orders to be a muzzle on the mouths of policemen, these orders must be respected and adhered to. Therefore, to argue that these standing orders do not circumvent an officer’s right to freedom of speech is severely misguided; because they do.
There is a Public Relations Officer within the GPF who has the mandate of engaging in media relations. The GPF has modeled its communications functions after conventional models where communications flow from a central source. If organizations allowed any and every one to speak with the media, anarchy would reign and credibility will become extinct.
The $90 million imbroglio in which a senior police commander finds himself deeply immersed, because of his decision to speak out, might be viewed as a deliberate attempt at failing to follow simple rules of the GPF. While many can sympathize and even empathize with the commander’s plight for justice in a system where it is selectively administered, there can be absolutely no doubt that he failed to observe a recently established rule of the GPF of which he is a senior team leader.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, who has direct responsibility for the GPF, has regrettably expressed a loss of confidence in the ability of the commander to properly perform his duties to the Force and people of Guyana. Strangely, one can argue that the police commander possibly operated outside the ethical jurisdictions of the Force, by breaking his silence on an issue in direct contravention of established standing orders restraining officers from speaking publicly on any matter of the GPF.
The fervent call by the minister for the commander to face disciplinary action will spark heated debates in the society. The selective administration of justice within the GPF will be questioned, and many will point fingers to the top of the GPF administration asking why a similar loss of confidence and disciplinary call has not been issued by the Home Affairs Minister for the substantive Commissioner of Police potentially facing a rape charge.
Perhaps more consistency in the way the police deals with their own when they transgress might inspire confidence in the society that currently views the flip flop of justice being applied.
Richard Francois
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