After some six months of leave, the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force, Seelall Persaud will be resuming his duties today.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan confirmed on Sunday that Persaud was set to return to work.
“Yes, that’s correct; he will be returning tomorrow [today]… He is going to resume duty tomorrow [today] until he retires,” Ramjattan told this publication.
Persaud is scheduled to retire in April of this year.
Persaud had proceeded on four months’ vacation leave and was slated to return to work on November 24, 2017. However, he was asked to remain on leave “in the interest of the public” by the Public Security Minister.
In a letter that was made public, Ramjattan instructed Persaud to go on “special leave” until further notice so as to allow for the continuation of initiatives and innovations being pursued by the Guyana Police Force’s temporary administration.
That move was translated by commentators as Persaud getting the boot following the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.
Retired Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Slowe headed the CoI. In his recommendations, Slowe suggested that disciplinary action be taken against Police Commissioner Persaud and that he be made to resign and investigated for perjury.
However, the Head of State had subsequently explained that the Top Cop was not asked to proceed on administrative leave rather he was merely asked to use up his remaining annual leave. He noted that the coalition Government was not in favour of public servants accumulating leave which sometimes resulted in them requesting payment for that time.
“Right now, there is nothing abnormal or irregular about Mr Seelall Persaud going on leave. The leave is due to him; he is not being sent on administrative leave; the leave is due to him and he should enjoy it,” he added.
When asked on Sunday whether any decision was made as to whether Commissioner Persaud would remain on the job until his retirement or would be asked to resign in keeping with recommendations made, the Public Security Minister replied, “He is going to resume duty tomorrow [today] until he retires.”
Acting in the capacity of Commissioner of Police since Persaud was on leave was David Ramnarine.
