Greene proceeds on leave in wake of rape allegation

Greene proceeds on leave in wake of rape allegation; opposition, women lawyers welcome decision

Demerara Waves: December 17, 2011

Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force Henry Greene has proceeded on leave as an investigation gets underway into a rape allegation levelled against him earlier this week

The announcement came via the Government Information Agency (GINA) and amidst strident calls from opposition parties and interest groups for him to either resign or step aside so that an unimpeded investigation could be done.

According to a GINA release on Saturday, President Ramotar has acceeded to Greene’s request for leave in light of the allegation against him with Assistant Commissioner Leroy Brumell to serve as Commissioner in the interim. 

“The Head of State said also that he has liaised with Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, requesting that his Ministry conduct external assistance in the investigations in order to expedite them,” the GINA release read.

The APNU and AFC,the Guyana Women Lawyers Association and the Youth Coalition for Transformation have all called on Greene to resign or step aside for the investigation.

Executive member of the Guyana Women Lawyers Association, Emily Dodson, in an initial reaction, welcomed the decision, saying
“My view is that this should have happened a long time ago.”

His accuser, a 34-year-old mother of two, said she had gone to Greene last month for assistance with a matter involving another police officer and ended up being raped by  the Commissioner on November 22 at a city hotel.  Greene has not pronounced on the allegations one way or the other, instead saying that he has put the matter in the hands of his lawyers and that God would be his judge. He has also declined to say whether he knows the woman.

AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman also agreed with the decision for Greene to go on leave but preferred to seem him interdicted as any other officer or rank of the Guyana Police Force. “It’s a good first step but ultimately he should be treated in any other way as a rank and not sent on leave but interdicted. It is a good indication that after a very long time rule of law would be propped or an attempt to restore it.”

Trotman not only expects due process and non-interference for both Greene and his accuser but also the beginning of an overhaul of the top-bracket of the police force, aimed at restoring local and international credibility and pride.

“Now we have a good opportunity to ensure both have due process and reshape and reform the entire hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force whose image has been badly tattered,” said Trotman who is a United States-trained security expert.

APNU’s Vice Chairman, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine hailed Greene’s decision as a “sensible thing” and hoped that the investigation would not be tainted. “He has done the sensible thing. It may be a prelude to his resignation and I think it will be generally welcomed,” he said. Greene has reached retirement age but has been retained at the president’s pleasure.

“From what I know, there is definitely grounds for an investigation. We do have the capacity to carry out an investigation and in the present climate it would be very foolhardy to interfere with an investigation,” Roopnaraine added.

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