GPF preserving historical records

DPI/GINA, Tuesday, June 6, 2017

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is actively working to ensure that its historical records are preserved.

There is an officer dedicated to the preservation of log books and other historical records of vehicles, plants and equipment of the GPF to make them available to the Auditor General upon request Assistant Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, Finance Officer of the GPF said.

The Assistant Commissioner appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday in Parliament Chambers to answer queries on the 2015 Auditor General Report.

An updated record puts the GPF in, “a position to monitor the individual cost of repairs or determine whether it was economical to retain or dispose of certain vehicles” the report noted.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Hoppie pointed out that the GPF has managed to recover monies overpaid to ranks since last appearing before the PAC and is working with the Auditor General’s Office recommendations to see the process through.

The Auditor General’s Report noted that several employees of the Force were overpaid to the tune of $2.30M for the years 2010 – 2012.

“We have not exhausted all efforts in recovering these monies,” Hoppie told the PAC. The GPF has since recovered $443,394 since appearing before the PAC last year.

Additionally, the GPF has put measures in place to prevent this from reoccurring. Assistant Commissioner Hoppie explained that the GPF’s Human Resources Department is working closely with Commanders in each Division to ensure that submissions are made indicating that a rank is no longer in the employ of the organisation.

“By which time we would try to hold the salary get clarification and inform the Ministry of Finance,” Assistant Commissioner Hoppie explained.

These overpaid ranks had, “illegally withdrawn from work” while others were “absent without leave” Commissioner Hoppie told the PAC in response to questioning.

The Assistant Commissioner noted that while this is of concern to the force, it is “not as frequent as it was recently”.

 

By: Tiffny Rhodius