BREAKING: Commander removed for refusing to evict International Observers/ Commissioners from GECOM Building
REMOVED: Assistant Commissioner Edgar Thomas outside the GECOM Region 4 Returning office Wednesday
The Administration of the Guyana Police Force has removed with immediate effect, Assistant Commissioner of Police Edgar Thomas from the helm of the police Regional Division 4-A.
BIG Smith News Watch has been informed that the transfer was reportedly done on the basis that he was instructed to clear the office of the Region 4 Returning Officer but opted not to in order to defuse tensions among the various sides.
According to police sources, on Thursday Night Thomas was instructed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police to clear the building at Hadfield and High Streets of all International and local Observers as well as Guyana Elections Commissioners of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic but he refused.
It was reported to this publication that the Officer after assessing the situation on the ground coupled with the negative press which had already been circulating with respect to the hostile treatment of the media, international observers and GECOM Commissioners, he felt that removing the occupants from the building would have intensified tensions which were already high in and around the facility.
After Thomas refused, A Deputy Commissioner of Police then sent a junior rank from Force Headquarters to clear the building. Today a Superintendent was sent to the division is now performing the functions of Deputy Commander for the Division while the substantive Deputy Commander is performing the functions as Commander which Thomas Previously performed.
Thomas was placed in the Division last year after the Assistant Commissioner of Police Marlon Chapman went into retirement.
Senior sources within the force had indicated that Thomas who had little experience in dealing with public order issues and command of a division was sent to the location as the force administration was not too keen on having at least three more experienced police officers sent to the division.
