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The Guyana Police Force currently has no substantive or acting Deputy Commissioner, contrary to recent reports by several media outlets. The last Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Paul Williams, retired on May 1, 2024, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of fifty-five. Since his retirement, no one has been appointed to fill this crucial role.
Assistant Commissioners Calvin Brutus and Ravindradat Budhram have been carrying out the functions typically associated with the rank of Deputy Commissioner in their respective portfolios of Administration and Operations. However, they have not been officially appointed or acting in the Deputy Commissioner rank. The distinction between carrying out the functions and holding the rank is significant, as per Article 211 (1) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, which mandates that the President, after consulting with the Leader of the Opposition and the Chairperson of the Police Service Commission, must appoint the Deputy Commissioner.
Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Paul Slowe, recently emphasized the importance of accurate reporting. He highlighted that the Assistant Commissioners have been correctly wearing their badges of Assistant Commissioner and not Deputy Commissioner, as they have not been appointed to the higher rank. He urged media outlets to report accurately and avoid spreading false information, even if it comes from official sources.
