Dear Editor,

The pleasure was mine to have had a brief association with Col. Christine King in the production and presentation of a certain programme. In a recent interview on GTV, she hinted to her imminent retirement from the Guyana Defence Force. This astute woman can offer her country an unmatched service in another position. In this regard, I suggest that President Jagdeo give Guyana an excellent 36th birthday gift by appointing Col. Christine King as Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force. This outstanding soldier would bring to the police force qualities that are vitally necessary to salvage this institution. She has the discipline, the tenacity, the professionalism and the will to create the change at the leadership level where the change is obviously needed.

Col. King as a trained social worker would understand the responsibility of the commissioner's office and the force in securing the social anatomy of the citizenry. She would know that it's the force's responsibility to inform the public and not conduct the affairs as if the commissioner is the institution.

Look at the way the New York commissioner of police fields questions from the press, you get the feeling that he understands that he owes it to the society to make the information available. Where the information is not there he accepts it as his duty to go and find out (investigate). A police force needs a commissioner who will make such attitudes the ethos of the force.

Our security demands that one who understands the power and need for proper example leads the police force. Col. King has singled herself out as such a person. We learned that her rise to the high position she now holds was not as a result of political favour; it was due to hard work and dedication to a cause. She is a fine example to other women who have to labour for recognition in a man's world. When a woman, in a `man's job', rises to such heights without lying low, she is effect says, `I cannot be bought or sold'. Society cries out for such persons.

Col. King's gender may be frowned upon as her greatest obstacle. That is because our socialisation process has nurtured in us this `man's world' mentality. Yet it is probably her best ally, if she were appointed to the post.

Men have by and large been like phantoms. Many of society's important institutions seem to suffer with the disease `menopause' (Men On Pause) a personal adaptation.

Menopause is used here to describe a state in which men have been placed on pause as on a CD player. The CD continues to spin; giving the impression it is in operation. It consumes electricity but provides no music.

Col. King's professionalism will benefit the force immensely. Society abounds with reports of reckless mini bus drivers who are untouchable since they operate vehicles that are owned by police officers. One conductor berated a police corporal at the Plaisance car park. The bus was badly parked and the rank asked the driver to get in line. When he refused, the rank instructed him to empty the bus and go to the Eve Leary station. The driver and conductor instructed the passengers to ignore the officer shouting, `Y'all don' come out de bus, is `e bass (boss) vehicle'. Campaigns are started and stopped just as fast. The road carnage continues unabated. Killer drivers are back in the seat to continue their killings probably to be classified as `serial killers'. While all of this is going on, the authority seems to be helpless, hapless, incapable of rescuing the situation. As a member of the army and a professional. Col. King is untainted with corrupt policing and is therefore capable of promoting values that will lend to restoring dignity and professionalism to the police force.