High Commissioner Glover said that based upon the many checks and balances, Felix, out of four other Deputy Police Commissioners, has stood out as the officer “most capable” of leading the Guyana Police Force.

According to Minister Gajraj, “Felix is well-rounded and shows tremendous potential”. He noted that Felix, who, at present is in charge of the Operations Department of the Guyana Police Force, has worked in many other departments of the Force, and with his recently completed LL.B programme, will ensure justice for the Guyana Police Force and citizens.

A statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday indicated that both Gajraj and Glover made these disclosures on Saturday evening on the GTV television programme, ‘Close Up’.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, at a news conference last Friday, named Felix as the successor to McDonald, but said he was to have discussed the appointment with Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte.

President Jagdeo said the reformed Constitution requires him to consult with the Leader of the Opposition on appointing a Commissioner of Police.

However, he said, the process of appointing Felix cannot be completed until the Police Service Commission is in place. This has not been done because People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) has not cooperated in the process of appointing the said Commission.

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission has to be consulted before promotions can be made.

The Government had earlier announced that McDonald’s successor would have been one of four top officers of the Police Force sent on special courses in the United Kingdom. Felix was among the four.

In November 2001, Felix began a number of British Policing training programmes in the United Kingdom, where special emphasis was placed on leadership, excellence and investigation. Felix will undergo further training before taking up the position of Commissioner of Police in 2003.

Glover, in a statement over the weekend, said that the United Kingdom Government welcomed the announcement of a new Police Commissioner-designate. In the words of High Commissioner Glover, Felix’s appointment will greatly assist the programme of criminal justice reform, to which the United Kingdom and Guyana Governments are committed.

Following this announcement, the UK will take steps, in consultation with the Government of Guyana, the Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner-designate, to lay the basis for a sustained programme of change in the Guyana Police Force, the British High Commissioner stated.

“We expect senior advisors from Scotland Yard to be here shortly to begin this work,” he added.

GINA quoted Gajraj as saying that the Guyana Police Force is going through a “metamorphosis” and noted that these rigorous changes in the Force would restore a greater degree of citizens’ confidence in the Force.

The Home Affairs Minister was said to have also bemoaned the fact that the Guyana Police Force would be losing 12 senior Police officers later this year. In this regard, he noted that with this valuable experience leaving the Force it is necessary to have reinforcements in place.

Minister Gajraj, however, noted that the transition in the Police Force would not happen overnight.