Just over three weeks after the torture of a 15-year-old boy while in custody at the Leonora Police Station, the area commander has been moved from the division and will now take up a position at the force’s Eve Leary Headquarters.

Paulette Morrison

Assistant Commissioner Paulette Morrison, who headed the ‘D’ Division of the force and whose office was at the police station where three prisoners were said to have been tortured during a murder investigation, will now be in charge of the force’s Department of Development at Eve Leary, the police said yesterday. Other changes have also been announced.

The force has come under severe criticism following the allegations of torture; triggered by a photograph of the burnt pelvic area of the teen. His injuries led him to being hospitalised for over two weeks. Since Morrison headed that division and her office was at the police station where the illegal acts took place, many were of the opinion that she should have known what had transpired.

The torture reports only became public following the publication of the photograph and after one of the other accused was charged and taken to court. Members of the media were locked out of the Wales Magistrate’s Court when the accused was taken to the court and it was only after speaking to his attorney it was learnt that among other things he was burnt on the tongue with a cigarette.

George Vyphuis

The changes announced yesterday will be interpreted as a response by the police to the widespread revulsion voiced over the torture of the teen. It could also possibly defuse the clamour for the commander to be disciplined by the Police Service Com-mission.

Thus far, two policemen have been charged with beating two of the three suspects in the murder of former Region Three official Ramenaught Bisram. How-ever no charges have been brought yet in relation to the teen who was burnt. The two policemen charged over the other suspects are now out on bail.

The force in a press release yesterday announced Morrison’s transfer from that division along with a number of other changes in its chain of command.

Steve Merai

Steve Merai

Another notable change is that of the controversial Assistant Commissioner Steve Merai who has been moved from the Department of Development and will now head the Berbice Division.

Assistant Commissioner of Police George Vyphuis, who was the head of the Berbice Division, will now be in charge of ‘A’ Division,   taking over from Assis-      tant Commissioner Leroy Brummell who has been moved to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner ‘Operations’ at Eve Leary.  Vyphuis’s move to the ‘A’ Division will be seen as a significant promotion after favourable reports on his performance as the Berbice commander.

Taking over from Morrison at D Division is Assistant Commissioner Colin West, who was in charge of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) based at Eve Leary.

The move by the force to send Merai to ‘B’ Division which could be seen as a promotion in terms of his duties, will be met with criticism by many as had been the case when he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner earlier this year.

When Merai was promoted this year there were still some questions about his voice on a tape demanding money from an alleged drug dealer to settle an issue. According to the recordings, the businessman had collected a delivery of cocaine from another man who resides on the West Demerara, after the drugs had been shipped by      a Guyanese living in Venezuela. The businessman having collected the narcotics had allegedly refused to pay for it and the Venezuelan man and his West Demerara accomplice had allegedly contacted Merai asking him to ensure that the businessman paid up. Merai was heard on the tape demanding US$60,000 from the businessman to settle the case. Merai had later explained to the media that he was really working undercover and trying to bring down drug lords.

Merai also once headed the now infamous ‘Black Clothes’ police squad which has been fingered in a number of extra-judicial killings.

Merai had left Guyana for an overseas destination where he spent quite a significant period and later returned but by then the Black Clothes Squad was disbanded and he was given an office position at Eve Leary. It was after the retirement of Police Com-missioner Winston Felix that the officer was again given frontline duties and this was followed by his promotion earlier this year.