The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday concluded its Junior Officers’ Course at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary with the presentation of certificates to the 21 participants and Police Commissioner Henry Greene addressing the officers and reminding them of their role as leaders.
Reflecting on the journey, Assistant Superintendent Mahendra Persaud said that it was an enjoyable one.
Persaud praised all of the lecturers, who were drawn from GPF, Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, University of Guyana and Ex-Police Officers.
He recalled that upon arrival at Felix Austin Police College the junior officers questioned how their learning and managerial skills would improve and how the course would benefit them along with the factors that would make them successful at the course.
He stated that their first module was at the University of Guyana where they were taught Management, Politics, Communication and the Art of Leadership which lasted for three weeks. Upon completion, he said, they felt like true university students as they were also required to do and present a research paper along with several other assessments with a special emphasis on developing their people skills.
Persaud said there were some powerhouses in the batch and referred to Assistant Commissioner Clinton Conway and Assistant Superintendent Argie Small.
He pledged on behalf of his colleagues to ensure delivery of the highest quality of service to Guyana and to maintain a high level of discipline and not to limit themselves.
Commissioner Greene was praised by Conway for his advice and words of wisdom at the beginning of the course. Conway referred to Greene as a versatile and dynamic leader with distinction who not only represents the Police Force but also the Joint Services. He stated that the commissioner was quick to take action against sloppy work and that he rewarded good work done.
Walking down memory lane, he said he remembered famous reggae musician, the late Bob Marley, being interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and he responded to a question about his education by saying, “I man ain’t get education. I man get inspiration. If I man de get education, I man would be a stupid man.” He urged Greene to be an inspiration to the officers.
Addressing the officers, Greene focused on leadership and urged them to be the best in their field. He thanked the Felix Austin Police College for maintaining the course despite it not being held for a few years, emphasizing on its importance now and for the future. He said the course assists with a number of things in the laboratory and other fields of the job and recalled his participation in the same course way back in 1979. Urging the college to conduct the course at least twice per year considering the number of cadet officers in the GPF, he noted that there might be some difficulty trying to train them altogether.
Greene also thanked UG for maintaining the link with the force. He said he appreciated that the link has helped them to better understand what management is all about, despite practicing it in their daily lives, and it is important to maintain the link for the successful completion of the course.
Reminding them that professional competence is important, he told the officers that the general public at times questioned the ability of some of the members of the force.
He explained that communication is important as is understanding the language and as leaders they must be able to communicate efficiently. Greene told the officers that the course prepares them for leadership, and it also helps them to achieve the succession plan. He urged that they see it as an opportunity to reflect; to turn a new leaf; to attempt to erase whatever scars of the past they have and improve themselves.
Greene also mentioned that anything can spark a problem where they might have to control a crowd and they must take the leadership role in a professional manner. He said that if when that happened they felt like running and hiding from situations, they were in the wrong job.
He noted that on-the-job training is very critical and urged the officers to motivate their ranks below them by rewarding them when necessary and punishing them as well.
Concluding his address, Greene said that if there was any Best Paper by an officer it will earn an award of $100,000; the Best Student will be given $200,000 and the Best Presentation $100,000. An additional $100,000 will be given to the officers for fun and frolic.
The seven objectives of the course were professional competence, specific knowledge base, upgraded competence in English, appreciation of roles in the leadership framework, maintaining former links with the joint services, stimulating thoughts and energy and enhancing the succession plan.
