Acting Deputy Commissioner, Winston Felix, is to succeed acting Police Commissioner Floyd McDonald early next year.

President Bharrat Jagdeo met Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte yesterday to initiate the constitutional process for Felix's appointment.

At a press conference at the Office of the President yesterday, President Jagdeo said he had earlier written to Hoyte on the proposal to appoint Felix as commissioner of police.

He said Felix has to go through additional training and Scotland Yard personnel would be coming to Guyana within the next two months to work with the Guyana Police Force on a long-term basis to implement the recommendations of the report on the force done by UK experts.

In the last quarter of 2000 the Guyana government had approached the UK government for support for the local criminal justice system. Reports were done on the GPF, judiciary, and prison system.

President Jagdeo subsequently visited the UK and had a number of engagements after which assistance was secured for all three areas.

He said the transition would take some time but he disclosed that Felix should assume his new post by early next year. He noted that the process could not be completed without the constitutional requirements being adhered to and unless the Police Service Commission was in place.