Govt begins work to reconstitute Police Service Commission

President Irfaan Ali says the Government has started work towards reconstituting the Police Service Commission (PSC), describing the process as a priority; amid growing concerns over the absence of the constitutional body and its implications for disciplinary matters involving senior members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Ali made the disclosure during a press conference on Friday, where he was questioned about an update on the reconstituting of the PSC, particularly against the backdrop of allegations of rape and threatening behaviour against Deputy Commissioner of Police Fizal Karimbaksh, Head of the Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). Asked when the Government would move to have the Commission reconstituted, the President said the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, had already begun work on reconstituting the PSC and other constitutional commissions.

“We have written on this. I think the AG and Minister Teixeira started the work on having this commission, and others, reconstituted,” Ali revealed. “It is in our interest as a Government, as a people, to have these commissions fully functional, and it is a priority of mine, and we have done what we can do so far to have the commissions ready. So, it’s not on the Government. We have done our part,” he added. Provided for under Article 210 of Guyana’s Constitution of Guyana. Under Article 210(1), The PSC is a constitutional body responsible for key aspects of the governance, oversight and administration of the GPF, particularly appointments, promotions and disciplinary matters involving senior officers. The Commission comprises the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and four other members appointed by the President upon nomination by the National Assembly. The President then appoints the Chairman from among the four members after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. The last PSC was sworn in on May 31, 2022, and came to an end in July of this year. The President’s comments come as questions continue to arise over the administrative measures that can be taken against Karimbaksh while investigations into allegations against him are ongoing.

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