Alves out as leave expected to last until retirement -Top Cop
-Top Cop says decision to be made soon on substantive replacement
Deputy Commissioner of Police Lyndon Alves remains on administrative leave, which is likely to last until his retirement although he was recently cleared of any criminal conduct in an investigation into alleged corrupt practices, Police Commissioner Leslie James said yesterday.
“Mr Alves is on administrative leave and I can say to you that is likely to lead him straight into retirement,” James told reporters.
James was at the time responding to questions on the sidelines of an event held at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Square, Eve Leary.
This disclosure came less than two months after James had announced that Alves was cleared of any criminal conduct but noted that the force was dealing with “some administrative issues”.
“What I can say to you is that the investigation has been completed and I have obtained a file and in terms of criminal conduct Mr Alves has been cleared,” James had said in early September, when asked for an update on the matter. “Well, internally, administratively, there is some other issues we are dealing with and that is the final position,” he had added.
Upon further questioning yesterday, James noted that a decision will be made “very soon” to appoint a new Crime Chief.“Well you know there is a current acting Crime Chief. Very soon a decision will be made very to confirm the current acting Crime Chief as Crime Chief or whether to have another person put in place,” he explained.
In late June, Alves was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the exposure of a network of alleged corruption in the Guyana Police Force’s ‘B’ Division (Berbice).
The move came days after the force broke its silence on media reports of corrupt activities in the division by stating that an internal investigation was being undertaken by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
A number of police officers had spoken out about alleged corrupt practices in the division. Several policemen, on condition of anonymity, have told this newspaper about corruption associated with a senior officer.
Ranks, who say they were breaking their silence after their reports about his activities fell on deaf ears within the division, also identified several junior ranks who have reportedly aided the senior rank in his activities, which are said to include offering protection from prosecution to persons accused of crimes.
After the allegations were published, several police officers were transferred. Alves was one of four Deputy Commissioners who had been appointed by President David Granger just over a year ago as part of a reorganisation of the police force in order to facilitate reform plans.