Although they can cope with the physical demands, Indian and Amerindian policemen are more likely to quit their jobs because of the poor pay and working conditions.
This is according to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, who says there is no place for quotas in the force, which has made and continues to make efforts to train and recruit persons of all races. But Greene yesterday told the Disciplined Forces Commission the efforts of this force in this area had been restricted by the poor terms and conditions of service under which all policemen work.
The commission is reviewing the Guyana Police Force and the other disciplined forces and will make recommendations to improve their efficiency. An interim report of its findings and recommendations for the police force is to be presented to the National Assembly by the 18 th of this month.
Justice of Appeal Ian Chang chairs the commission, which also includes former attorney general Charles Ramson SC; former national security adviser Brigadier (rtd) David Granger; attorney Anil Nandlall; and Irish human rights activist Maggie Beirne.
In 1965 the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) recommended that 75% of all recruits be Indo-Guyanese for five years to address the ethnic imbalance in the force.
Greene said whatever impact this recommendation had on the force could not be traced. But he said the force had considered the issue and believes that such a system would be to the disadvantage of some ethnic groups. In addition, an analysis suggests that it may not achieve the results envisaged.
According to their own records, the police force has managed to recruit persons from all the races at a roughly equal rate. For 2003 there have been 79 Afro-Guyanese recruits, 70 Indo-Guyanese recruits, seven Amerindian recruits and 14 of mixed ancestry.
But what the force has found is that during the training period more Afro-Guyanese, because of the higher numbers enlisted, leave the force. In the case of the Amerindian and Indo-Guyanese recruits, they leave the job more frequently.
Greene said this was because of the unattractive level of remuneration, unsatisfactory terms and conditions and the restrictive nature of the job.
"The Indian recruit feels he can do better economically...," he said, while adding, "it's not to their liking because some of them are accustomed to farm life and more relaxing hours."
Greene admitted that among the Indian recruits allegations of discrimination had surfaced after they left the police colleges. He said these claims had been and were investigated on a case-by-case basis. All investigations have found the allegations to be untrue, he said. The solution to the problem envisaged by the force is improving the conditions of service, to ensure that a life in the police force is attractive as a career.
"It doesn't matter what race, we are not getting people because of remuneration and other areas. Once we get it we are sure that we will get recruits of all types."
Greene said the force was now placed in a situation where it was forced to make every effort to keep all the recruits in the college, regardless of ethnicity.
Over the last two months several individuals as well as groups, including the Guyana Indian Heritage Association, the Indian Arrival Committee and even the People's Progressive Party have asked for the recruitment of more Indians and other races into the force, which is made up of mainly Afro-Guyanese.
These arguments are based on the grounds that policemen are not dispensing justice equally. But Greene rejected this idea outright:
"Policemen are taught to be blind in terms of race and justice. In spite of colour, creed and social status, all persons should be treated equally and not be discriminated against."
Another ICJ also recommended that the religious dietary requirements of all Indian recruits be met. Greene said the force had tried to implement this, though only as far as its finances allowed. "The money given to feed recruits is substantially low. And it is very difficult to really provide for every ethnic group."
With regard to police-community relations, Greene said allegations of police brutality and unjustified police killings had been responsible for painting the force in a negative light with the public and with a subsequent loss of public confidence. Without this, he said, intelligence gathering was also affected and consequently, the force's operational capacity.
"We are not saying our police-community relations are the best but things happen that can cause the public to lose confidence in us," said Greene who added that the force was trying to maintain and build on its current relations with the community.
But he cautioned that in a dual society the police would often encounter such problems. "Many times you find yourself in a dilemma. When you do act there is a cry. When you don't act there is a cry..."
In spite of these things, Greene also credited the press for playing a part in crafting the negative perception of the force. He lamented the lengthy controversial stories, which he contrasted with the concise pieces that were published at the end of investigations.
"Sometimes we are not consulted. Sometimes we are. Sometimes we cannot give an answer as soon as possible... Still, the problem we face is coming out of not having the best of relationships with the press," a situation he said the force has been trying to address, through press conferences and press statements.
And in hopes of engendering a greater public awareness, he said the results of investigations into controversial incidents should be made public. This includes the recommendations and the directions from the Police Complaints Authority and the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.