On training

Laurie Lewis was proudly emphatic that no matter how strenuous the efforts to discredit his tenure in these latter days - the twilight of his career, one shining legacy he'll leave is the frequency and levels of training executed under his command. At no time in the history of the 162-year-old Guyana Police Force was training so frequently extended to all ranks and officers and probably the ultimate pride of the Commissioner is the significant number of University-trained officers now serving. Three officers are currently pursuing Law at the St Augustine Campus and this week eminent legal practitioner Odel Adams is conducting a course for officers.

On political interference

Lewis refuted, and refutes, suggestions from the main political opposition that he or sections of the force receive(s) orders from Freedom House. Stating that he doesn't consider Presidential "interest" as "political" interference, the Commissioner declared that none of the five Presidents he has served has ever ordered him to do what he advised them against doing.

Desmond Hoyte was named as one who had a "deep interest" in the operations of the Force - which Lewis appreciated - and there were other leaders who wished to "seek to bring their influence to bear." Mr Lewis describes interference as "Requests for action" and recalled one instance where and when he had to bang on a table in front of one of the five Presidents when refusing adamantly to follow a suggested course of action. Most times, the leaders have conceded that his advice and actions were the best in the long run.

On political protest

We touched only briefly on the recent forms of political protest and the criminality it accommodates, inspires and provides cover for.

Laurie Lewis is disturbed at the re-definition of terms like "peaceful protest". They are anything but peaceful his men have discovered. But the Commissioner is even more appalled at the use of children at political rallies and in breaking up opponents' meetings. "This is the worst you could do to those young minds", the concerned Top Cop opined.

On extra-judicial killings

Commissioner Lewis, who will shortly cause a monument to be erected to the memory of the numerous cops killed in the line of duty, is concerned, quite naturally, at the allegations of police brutality and charges of extra-judicial killings made against his men. He is however aware of the media campaign orchestrated by a few, promoting this "mindset." He toys with the idea of writing every Commissioner in the Region and beyond to share the experience of the detractors' agenda.

He is all for enquiries and coroner's inquests as provided for in the law. He (surprisingly to me) hails the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) as impartial and recounted the inconsistencies in the accusations made against the police party that took out the criminal Junior Stanton recently. He knew Stanton as a good young boxer, at a personal level and is in contact with concerned relatives. That case is currently under detailed investigation.

(Even as he re-introduces JUDO training for his recruits, Lewis recounted the times his men attempted to use minimum force and paid with their lives. "The policeman has an instant to decide but the murder accused lawyers will have weeks to prepare their defence!")

Resignation? Retirement?

The Commissioner waxed warm and I learnt of a new dimension to his own understanding of the calls for his resignation.

His immediate response to the calls is to do his work even more diligently. He explored the realities of not being able to please everyone in these politicised, combustible times, as he explained to me and viewers "the pain" of being Commissioner here at this time. But did he see the resignation calls and the general "discrediting" of the force - including the Target Special Force (Black clothes) as "a campaign", "a pattern". The response that caught me off-guard: "If I want to take over the country, (I) would look for the centres of power, if certain power centres did not support me, I would be moving to ensure that I neutralise them".

As I stated above, this piece of political profundity coming from the Commissioner was a wee bit of a surprise for me. And when he told me, off-camera, his suspicion about the real reason a certain new member of parliament is leading the resignation charge, I decided I'd leave all that for another time, another encounter.

I gained the distinct impression that Laurie Lewis will bow out gracefully, suddenly, but at an appropriate time. There is probably some unfinished business he hates to leave undone. Check us out in another month's time.

Marginalisation: Editing for peace

Editing for Peace Sake. And matured responsibility. That's what I attributed to the editorial discretion exercised against an item included in my topic of marginalisation last Friday. I had followed up my theme with items on Munroe's Marginalisation and on Burnham's Marginalisation. The latter didn't make it.

Seldom does the Editor touch my offerings, but work is, it was mutually agreed, subject to publishers' and editorial scrutiny. So I'll be using my television programme Candid Conversation to further this debate. Sorry fans, I'll therefore leave the discussion on the Marginalisation of Amerindians and Black Rice Millers for that medium and occasion.

But won't the PNC be pleased that the issue has "caught on". Or will they?

Taxis and tints

Yes, a professional certified taxi-driver, having me his true captive for a few minutes, explained to me about the private-hire phenomenon on our streets.

He said some public servants' duty-free private cars work as taxis, both after-hours and when the government workers are on the job. Some taxi-services tolerate private cars because the "P" cars can enter the Police, GDF and other official compounds. He submitted some seventy (70) numbers of private-hire unfair competition to the Police. But no action - Why? Even some officers have private cars plying the routes, he alleged. This issue must be explored some time soon.

But are darker tints back? Has the restriction, instituted under Paul Slowe, been lifted. Check around. Note the dark tints re-appearing on some mini-buses. And the "4 by 4s" especially.

Dialogue!

1) It's true. Desmond Hoyte appointed Laurie Lewis Police Commissioner, on the same day the Auditor-General, Mr Goolsarran was sworn in.

2) Never forget the long list of atrocities committed recently under the cloak of protests - disenfranchisement, marginalisation. Why? They are likely to recur. (The list next week).

3) The deaths of 100 "youths" allegedly by "the Police" cannot be trivalised. How come they met this demise? Were the Police always that callous? Commissioner Lewis said that during the same period ('92 - 2001) 887 murders were reported. Some were not. Who killed those souls? Spare a thought for the Police too.

4) And witness journalistic vulgarity being excused once again. Worse. It's being refurbished. Given a "new" look. Don't be duped.

5) Here's hoping that `Six Head' is back in the American gym - under disciplined eyes and management.