Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 22, 2018 News
A senior Berbice policeman who refused to take a call from a passenger’s phone after stopping a minibus at a checkpoint in March has been transferred.
It turned out that the call on the civilian phone allegedly came from Commissioner of Police (ag), David Ramnarine.
Inspector Godfrey Playter was transferred from East Berbice and was reporting to the Cove and John Police Station, East Coast Demerara, since April, before going on leave.
Every day, he would travel from Albion, East Berbice, to that “C” Division police station, East Coast Demerara.
The inspector had written to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan in April, appealing the matter. The Minister has promised to investigate.
According to a copy of the letter sent to Minister Ramjattan, on April 16, by Inspector Playter, a grave injustice was meted out to him by the Guyana Police Force administration. According to Playter, the injustice was mainly by the ‘Top Cop’.
“The genesis of the issue is when I was the officer in charge of other ranks manning the ‘B’ Division checkpoint located at the eastern end of the Berbice River Bridge on Thursday 22nd March, 2018 about 11:30 hrs during the 06:00-18:00 hrs schedule.”
Playter claimed that the team was mandated by Lyndon Alves, Commander of ‘B’ Division, to stop, search and if possible detain persons and vehicles traversing the checkpoint.
On that day, they were carrying out their duties. One of the vehicles stopped was a minibus zoned with Number 45 driven by a male with three other persons.
“Whilst I was perusing the documents, it was found that the bus pass permitting the said bus to traverse the Number 63 route was deficient and there was no road service licence produced. This was brought to the attention of the driver who was warned to have it corrected in the future and I sent him away.”
The inspector in his letter said that before the bus could have left, the other occupant, came up to him, holding a cellular phone and while attempting to hand it, was saying, “Talk to yuh boss man”.
“I refused to do so while questioning who was the “boss man” but no name was given. They subsequently left. A short while later, I received a call on my cellular phone and after confirming that it was Mr. Lyndon Alves, Commander of ‘B’ Division who queried the encounter with the occupants of the said bus and I answered in the affirmative.
“He then instructed me to send the bus away and upbraided me for not taking the cell call stating that it was Mr. David Ramnarine.”
Playter said that he then informed the Commander that the driver was warned and sent away prior to his call. The police team said that they continued their duties.
“On Wednesday, 11th April 2018 having received previous instructions to see Assistant Commissioner Mrs. Maxine Graham at her office at 08:00 hrs, I did so, accompanied by Sergeant 19676 Ali and Lance Corporal 19560 Nagasar.
“On arrival, we were told that an inquiry will be conducted pertaining to what took place on Thursday, 22nd March 2018.”
Playter said that the inquiry was conducted by Assistant Commissioner Mr. Clifton Hicken and all the parties concerned.
“Upon conclusion, I was again upbraided by both Mr. Hicken and Mrs. Graham for not talking to Mr. Ramnarine on the civilian’s cellular phone and my action was deemed to be disrespectful to him.”
The policeman said that his refusal to take the said call was premised on the fact that his Commander had given clear instructions which were adhered to in the execution of duties.
“In addition, yet precisely stated, that should anyone complain that they can be directed to call him and he will give further instructions. Furthermore, I would like to state that in my thirty-four (34) years of service in the Guyana Police Force, I was never disrespectful to any of my superiors, which would have warranted a reprimand for such conduct however because of the prevailing atmosphere that existed at the time of having an audience with Mr. Ramnarine.
“I extended an apology in the presence of the other two senior officers mentioned above even though I did so with a heavy heart.”
Playter said he was under the impression that the matter was finished there.
However, on Friday 13th, April 2018 about 16:20 hrs while performing similar duties at the checkpoint, he was the recipient of a letter signed by the top cop.
“…and upon reading the contents, it was informing me that I was posted to ‘C’ Division (East sector Demerara) effective from the 16th April 2018. This caught me by surprise for it was done with haste and in full breach of the public service rules applicable to me as an Inspector of Police and one that is family oriented, as my family would be adversely affected also.”
The inspector, in his letter to Minister Ramjattan, said that he believed Ramnarine “abrogated” upon himself to sanction him.
“…In my humble view, it was a breach of natural justice and further, the sudden posting would have given one the impression that it was as a result of gross misconduct by me which resulted in him taking such an action.”
Playter pointed out that there are other worse situations involving other ranks, which are met with little or no sanction.
“…And therefore as a rank who understands the fundamentals of justice to an extent and would have sought to dispense same in performing my duty became a victim of such miscarriage. In this context, I, therefore, seek your intervention to halt such callus conduct of my superiors in future instances.”
The Minister who was apprised of the matter promised to investigate it.
Playter is currently on leave.
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