Dear Editor,

Should a serving member of the Guyana Police Force die, from which day should the force’s flag at stations be flown at half-mast? Is it from the date when the fact of the death becomes known, or from the date on which burial is to take place? And for how many days should the flag be so flown?

Should the flag be flown at half-mast only at the late policeman/woman’s station, at all stations within his/her division, or more widely?

Is there a difference where the officer has died while on duty, or off duty, and apparently from national causes?

Does rank determine either the date when the flag should first be flown at half-mast, or the duration of such flying?

On whose initiative or order is it provided, that the flag should be directed to be flown at half-mast? And last, but not least, are any consequences provided either for flying a station’s flag at half-mast without an order or, having been ordered to do so, not flying the flag as ordered?

Aspiring officer-cadets would probably have at their fingertips answers to all those questions. Time was, though, when every reasonable person here either knew where to find them or knew someone who knew where to find them – as a general knowledge pursuit. Now, however, even the wise and prudent seem occupied with less educationally-relaxing activities. Such a shame, though.

Yours faithfully,

Hilary Lashley-Bobb