Twenty-seven ranks of the Guyana Police Force are now better equipped to uphold the rule of law after successfully completing a six months internationally recognised prosecutorial training course at Nations University, New Market Street, Georgetown.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC, who delivered the feature address at a graduation ceremony held for the ranks on Friday, told them that they are now part of the legal system which administers and enforces the rule of law– the foundation on which a modern society rests.
“Unless we have law and order prevailing in this society, unless the rule of law is respected, unless there is public order and unless we have a legal system that delivers justice to our people in accordance with law…And that is why no matter what advancements are made in whatever arena of national life, we must have corresponding and commensurate advancement in the justice and legal sector,” the Attorney General stated.
He further stressed that “it is the rule of law that creates that regulatory environment through which every other developmental endeavor takes place in our country. “It is the rule of law and the law itself that embeds the foundation for all the other developments,” he said.
He said persons are comfortable to know that they live in a society where the legal system works in accordance with the law.
According to him, an unregulated society leads to anarchy and lawlessness, hence the government’s push to advance the legal system. Investments, he noted, are also being made in other aspects of the legal systems.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, in his remarks, said for far too long there has been a negative light on Police prosecutors. This, he said, is one of the reasons the government made the investment to improve the quality of Police prosecutors in the court system.
“Those who will stand up in the magistrates court, those who would do the documentation, put together the evidence in relation to prosecuting cases have to be of high integrity, have to have this high level of passionate engagement in respect of the work that they have to do.”
He said, “We must not fail our country, you young people have to carry our country forward in every endeavour, you have the brains and ability if used properly. It is not simply the receiving of the certificates and hearing the good words, it is in the doing.”
Meanwhile, ranks who completed the training said it will give them an edge in the courtroom.
Sergeant Quincy Lacon said: “I have great interest in the justice system as a Police officer… being a participant on this course will benefit the judicial system in so many ways, in terms of timely discharge of trials and so many things,”
Police Constable Orin Joseph believes that “It would be a great advantage for me and my fellow colleagues due to the fact that not many prosecutors were given this opportunity whereby they were trained as though they were attorneys-at-law. So now being able to go head-to-head with attorneys, even senior counsel is of great importance which I am anticipating to be a part of.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus in his charge to the graduates, urged them to assist the court in delivering justice in a fair and transparent manner.
He also urged them to guard against pouring their emotions into matters so as to not cloud their judgement.
Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards also delivered remarks, congratulating the graduates, noting that they can now “rub shoulders” with defence lawyers.
