Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 02, 2014 News
Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Huber Owen Fredericks was laid to rest on January 20 last following a moving funeral service at the Smith’s Memorial Congregational Church.
Fredericks holds the distinction of being the longest serving rank ever to grace the halls of the Police Services in Guyana.
Former Deputy Commissioner of Police Sultan Kassim pays a special tribute to the late AC Fredericks:
“Hubert Owen Fredericks was born on 5th January, 1928 on West Coast Demerara, He was popularly known as Sonny. In his later years he was fondly called Freddie and as he kept losing his hair and not to his face in a loving manner, was referred to as “bald head”.
He attended Stewartville Congregational School; Enterprise Secondary School and the Commercial High School where he gained the Junior and Senior Cambridge Certificates in Typewriting and Shorthand.
Thereafter he was employed as a school teacher before moving to Plantation Uitvlugt as a Laboratory Assistant. In the area where he resided he was admired and caused quite a stir among the unmarried girls. Just picture him with his full head of hair.
He joined the British Guiana Police Force on 1″ May, 1950 and was assigned regulation number 5501 and posted to Depot. Hubert Owen Fredericks continued to walk the corridors of the Force for over 33 years.
As a Sergeant, Joan Livingston spotted him with his associates at a function. She remarked to her friends that he appeared to be a cultured and promising young man and that she must win his love. She got her wish and their love association blossomed for 54 years as a happy couple with wonderful children.
During his tenure as a policeman he received his first promotion on 1″ January, 1957, and one year later, was elevated to Sergeant, a feat in those days seldom achieved.
Thereafter, he steadily mounted every step on the leadership ladder of authority to Senior Superintendent on 1″ March 1979. On his retirement he was an Acting Assistant Commissioner.
Hubert Fredericks attended several administrative courses sponsored by the Public Service Ministry and Extra mural classes of the University of Guyana. In addition he participated in police managed courses for Subordinate Officers, Inspectors and Officers.
In 1965 he attended a Junior Officers Course at Metropolitan Police Training College, and Hendon in the United Kingdom during 1969/1970.
He attended an Officers’ Course on Specialization dealing with Police Patrol Operations at the International Academy in Washington. Later at the University of Guyana he obtained a diploma in Public Administration.
During Hubert Fredericks years of Service he worked as a clerk at Depot now the Tactical Services Unit; Subordinate Officer in the Staff Administration Department, now General Officer where he implemented systems for record keeping; Subordinate Officer in charge of the Records Office, now the Criminal Records Office — step up systems of criminal records and police clearance; Subordinate Officer in charge of Leonora Police station; Subordinate Officer in charge of Kitty Police Station; Court Prosecutor in Georgetown; as an officer he worked in Georgetown, Berbice, East Coast Demerara, and Interior where he visited all stations and outposts.
IN 1974 he was appointed the Public Relations Officer of the Force and thereafter remained at Force’s Headquarters as Staff Officer and Acting Assistant Commissioner in Charge of administration.
During 1966 and 1967 I had the honour and privilege of working as a Constable at Kitty Police Station under the charge of Station Sergeant Fredericks.
He was meticulous and demanded that you give your best. He held weekly instruction classes and regularly detailed ranks to present specific subjects and others to answer questions. He taught us the nitty-gritty of police actions, investigations and demeanor towards the public.
We never called him Sarge, because he was more than that and spoke directly to him as Sir or Mr. Fredericks. We readily confronted him with our mistakes and problems. He reviewed every case jacket before it left the station for the courts.
You had to serve every summons and give reasons why warrants were not executed.
I spent a number of years working under Hubert Fredericks and never once did I hear him shout or ridicule anyone. He was a silent, firm and effective leader who got his job done. I learned policing under this gentleman. He was the best.
During the latter part of 1982, Hubert Fredericks was on pre-retirement leave from the regular Guyana Police Force and within 24 hours, he was speedily recruited to the National Guard Service now Special Constabulary.
He was instrumental in the smooth changeover of ranks. He accepted the position as Assist Manager in charge of Administration. Here again I had the privilege of working with him. He was the same Hubert Owen Fredericks calm, unmoved to major problems and solving them without any fuss. He continued in that service and was appointed Deputy Manager and Manager in 1991. He remained in this capacity until his retirement in 1998.
As Hubert Owen Fredericks walked through the valley of life he served approximately 50 years of continuous services with the Police and auxiliary — making him the longest serving rank ever to adorn the sacred walls of the Guyana Police Services.”
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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