Chief Constable Andrew Foo has come in for censure from the City Council after he delayed launching an investigation into the disappearance of a fence at Russell Square, Stabroek by over a week.
Foo came in for criticism at a statutory meeting on Monday after the council learned that the investigation only started on Friday last when he received correspondence from acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick.
Jerrick told the council that she queried the status of the investigation into the missing fence last Wednesday and Foo informed her that he was still awaiting the correspondence from her office informing him of council decision ordering the probe.
She noted that Foo had failed to launch the investigation despite the fact that he was a part of the August 12th meeting where the decision had been taken.
“It seems as if the Chief Constable has no respect for the council. I want to send the [message] to officers that they are not working for themselves but in the interest of the council and the people of Georgetown. Mr Foo doesn’t have any respect for this council,” Mayor Ubraj Narine said while responding to Jerrick’s report.
While stating that he has no apologies to make, the mayor emphasised that officers should execute their duties in the interest of the council.
Narine alleged that “Constables when they are going to vendors, they are saying that they are working for Mr Foo. No officer should be working for an individual or themselves and personal interest but the Mayor and City Council.”
Meanwhile, councillor Clayton Hinds said the approach by the Chief Constable to launch an immediate investigation was “insulting” and he questioned his efficiency. “I find it most disgusting to know that Mr Foo has failed to launch an immediate investigation when he was sitting as part of the council meeting and heard the council decision.
Foo did not respond to the criticisms as he informed the council that the investigation was launched last Friday is continuing.
At the August 12th statutory meeting, Councillors took the decision to order an investigation of the disappearance of the perimeter fence around Russell Square, Stabroek.
Discussions about the missing fence began after Foo informed the council that his department was not equipped with adequate resources to provide security at Russell Square, following reports of robberies at square.
City Engineer Rasheed Kellman had informed the council that over the past months, sections of the perimeter fence were vandalised by persons in the area and some of the materials had been allegedly stolen by vagrants who hang around the market.
Foo informed the council that the constabulary would require approximately six constables to cover the area. He noted that with no additional infrastructure, such as lighting or guard huts, it would be risky placing his officers at the site. Foo then suggested that the constabulary could make security checks at intervals during the course of the day.
