Dear Editor,
The Guyana Police Force is responding to an article published in the Stabroek News of Tuesday, January 12, under the caption ‘Ramjattan withholds comment on botched SOCU operation.’
In the article it is stated that “Stabroek News also reached out to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud but to no avail as after a wait of more than 30 minutes at his Eve Leary Office, this newspaper was told he was preparing to head off to a meeting.”
The Guyana Police Force wishes to inform the public that during Monday January 11, Stabroek News reporter Ms Zoisa Fraser, who has been known personally to the Commissioner of Police for about 7 years, came to the Commissioner’s office and told the Personal Assistant to the Commissioner (PAC) that she was making a courtesy call on the Commissioner, whereupon she was informed that the Commissioner was in a meeting.
Upon conclusion of the meeting the Commissioner was so informed and he immediately indicated to the PAC that he had to attend another meeting and could not accommodate the courtesy call at that time. This was communicated to Ms Fraser, who would have witnessed the Commissioner exiting the Conference Room among a number of officers, and she left the Commissioner’s office.
The Commissioner of Police expresses his resentment at this cheap shot by Stabroek News and wishes to advise Ms Fraser not to allow herself to be pressured into unprofessional behaviour.
The Commissioner of Police would further like to inform all reporters that in seeking information on police matters the following officials can be contacted, as seen necessary, through their offices on the telephone numbers indicated.
Commissioner of Police – 225-8339, 227-4656, 227-5456 and 226-2487
Head CID – 223-8940, 225-3650
Public Relations and Press Officer – 225-5401
Divisional Commanders
‘A’ Division – 226-1389, 227-2128
‘B’ Division – 333-3876
‘C’ Division – 229-2289
‘D’ Division – 268-2343
‘E’ Division – 444-3406
‘F’ Division – 648-0171
‘G’ Division – 771-4010
Traffic Officer – 227-2272
Yours faithfully,
Ivelaw Whittaker
Public Relations and Press Officer
Editor’s note
Ms Zoisa Fraser visited the Commissioner Seelall Peersaud’s office on Monday some time after 10.30 am. En route to an area where she thought the Commissioner’s Personal Assistant was located she was intercepted by a female rank, to whom she gave her own name and that of the newspaper she represented. In response to an enquiry about the purpose of her visit she did say she was there to make a courtesy call. She was informed that he was in a meeting, and subsequently witnessed several senior police officers including the Commissioner exiting a room. Approximately ten minutes after that, the female rank told her that the Commissioner would not be able to see her because he was going to a meeting.
Ms Fraser subsequently spoke to a male rank who confirmed she could not see the Commissioner, even thought he was assured it would not take long. When he was asked at what time she could come back, he responded he was not responsible for that and if she called after 1pm she would be given a number to make an appointment. At no time did he identify himself as the Commissioner’s Personal Assistant, and neither did he enquire from her as to why she wanted to see the Commissioner.
Ms Fraser says that while it is acknowledged that she is personally known to the Commissioner, she finds it strange that despite frequent lengthy waits, she has never been able to see him, although she has always given the reason for her presence there. In addition, her efforts to contact the Commissioner either through his office or on his cellphone have always proved futile. It was for this reason that when asked why she was there, Ms Fraser gave an answer which was partly true, namely that she was making a courtesy call, because she had not been able to speak to him since he assumed office.
On the same day Ms Fraser attempted to speak to Commissioner Persaud, she did speak to both Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Assistant Commissioner Sydney James, the Head of SOCU, immediately after.
