President Irfaan Ali has refuted claims that he tried to influence the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Paul Slowe to have him promote his (Ali’s) ‘people’ in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Slowe made this allegation this morning. He is currently embroiled in a $10M fraud investigation.
The President said that he never tried to influence Slowe.
“This is not only far from the truth, but it is a malicious attempt to change the narrative. Mr. Slowe, like other independent commissioners, the judiciary, and I had a meeting. At that meeting, I raised various concerns with him that were brought to my attention without prejudice,” the Head of State said.
He added that as President, he desires to see these Commissions function professionally and independently.
“If Mr. Slowe is saying I tried to influence him, where are the results of that influence? Where is the result? It is clear as day that Mr. Slowe is bringing the independence and professionalism of the PSC into question when he aligns the PSC with opposition member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul and retain Opposition members of Parliament Roysdale Forde, Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanda Walton Desir to institute proceedings against the Government of Guyana,” the President stressed.
He went on to say Slowe must explain how he remains “aligned” to a political party while being an “independent commissioner”.
“Where is the independence? It is therefore not only opportunistic but a total lie that my meeting with Mr. Slowe was to exercise any influence. This level of distortion and public mischief by the Chairman of this Commission exposes his leadership and alignment. My meeting with Mr. Slowe was within the first few months of my Presidency, more than eight months ago; the question is, why only now? I guess his unprofessional exposure and links are making him desperate,” Ali said.
