The Guyana Association of Local Authorities (GALA) wants the People’s Militia to be reactivated and used as a backup for the police force.

This is because reliance on the army in extreme situations, aside from being excessive, undermines police work, So said Llewellyn John yesterday while defending the group’s submission to the Disciplined Forces Commission.

“Guyana is moving on a dangerous course if we have the army more and more involved in civilian matters. The role of the army should always be a distinct one... defending the country,” said John, who is a former Home Affairs Minister.

The commission was set up by the National Assembly to review the operations of the disciplined forces. Justice of Appeal Ian Chang is chairman of the Commission which also comprises former Attorney-General Charles Ramson SC; former National Security Adviser, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger; attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall; and Irish human rights activist, Maggie Beirne.

GALA believes that instead of calling upon the army when situations such as those that recently occurred in Buxton, a reserve militia, co-ordinated across the entire country, could be deployed.

John says that the army would not be entirely replaced in civilian operations as it would be used as a last resort.

GALA has also recommended that the City Constabulary be integrated as an auxiliary of the national security services and be represented on the National Defence Board.

“Don’t the city police have a duty to deal with any offence which occurs in public places within the Council’s area? But the constabulary seems to have relinquished their powers...” Justice Chang considered.

But John disagreed with assertions that they had abdicated their powers and argued instead that they had been without the resources or respect to do their duty.

GALA also wants the police force to know that `Big Brother’ is watching and the conduct of policemen was being monitored.

Advances in technology, John explained, had allowed the public to see on their TV screens the behaviour of policemen who seem oblivious to it all.

“The police have not come to grips with advances in technology... [and] they ought to know their behaviour is subject to public scrutiny.”

GALA believes that the police will be forced to act more professionally and will in turn earn respect once they recognise that the public is watching.

What they are seeing according to John’s testimony are serious weaknesses which breed corruption, like the powers for granting bail which are still vested in police officers.

He said this system needed to be reviewed to guard against abuse by policemen who fail to recognise that the purpose of bail was to ensure attendance in court and not preliminary punishment.

GALA’s solution to the problem is vesting this power in Justices of the Peace, albeit with limitations to prevent corruption or abuses.

Meanwhile, Kevin Chichester and Parvati Persaud-Edwards also testified before the commission yesterday, telling their stories of alleged police brutality.

Chichester recalled the police beatings which had left him visually impaired.

The first occurred on Wednesday June 26, 1996, when he went to the cinema for the night show and took a seat next to three men.

“I didn’t know they were policemen because they were dressed in civilian clothing.”

After 20 minutes he was suddenly attacked by the man next to him who began to repeatedly punch him in the face. The attack forced Chichester into the lobby where he was floored by a blow to his left eye. As people crowded around to find out what was going on the policeman accused him of trying to snatch his gold chain.

He was hauled off to the Brickdam Police Station and locked up until he was released on Friday 28. He later reported the incident to a senior officer at the Brickdam Station who gave him a police medical form, though this was of no use since his doctor told him that he could only certify the medical form within 24 hours of injury.

Again in August 2000 Chichester had a run in with policemen who found him urinating in an empty lot at the junction of Robb Street and Avenue of the Republic. He was unaware that they were policemen at the time and hid from them before fleeing after he was frightened by their guns. The men caught up with him and beat him, again injuring his left eye. He was questioned afterward and released. He was never charged and nothing has come of the incidents.

Persaud-Edwards told the Commission of an assault on her by four policemen in the Providence Police Station, where she had gone to make a complaint.

Aside from ignoring her complaints, she said police disregarded her repeated calls for assistance all because of her relation to Mark Benschop, her son-in-law.

Benschop is now in prison awaiting trial for treason and Persaud-Edwards accused the government of directly and indirectly - through the police - harassing her for this connection.

The commission is concentrating its investigation on the operations of the Guyana Police Force, and will submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the National Assembly in November.