00:00PNM Chairman Marvin Gonzalez is calling on the government to clarify the status of Police Commissioner Alistair Guevara,
00:07including whether he is currently in the country and who is exercising the functions of Commissioner.
00:13Gonzalez raised the questions at a media conference following the PNM's General Council meeting at Balizie House on Saturday.
00:21I want to ask the Minister of Homeland Security, where is the Commission of Police?
00:26Is the Commission of Police in the jurisdiction?
00:30When did the Commissioner of Police leave the jurisdiction?
00:35And who was appointed an Acting Commissioner of Police if the Commissioner of Police left this jurisdiction?
00:45Gonzalez said he had received the information that Guevara had applied for emergency leave,
00:50but questioned whether an Acting Commissioner had been appointed.
00:54I have received information, and therefore I'm asking the question.
00:59I have received information that the Commissioner of Police has left the jurisdiction,
01:04and that the Police Service Commission has not done what it's supposed to do to appoint an Acting Commissioner of
01:12Police
01:12to discharge the duties of Commissioner of Police during the absence of the substantive Commissioner of Police.
01:20The PNM chairman subsequently raised the issue again on social media on Sunday,
01:25saying he had received no response from the Prime Minister, the Minister of Homeland Security, or the Police Service Commission.
01:32Gonzalez also claimed that the country's most Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police was unable to confirm the Commissioner's whereabouts,
01:40while indicating that he was currently in charge of the police service.
01:44TV6 News contacted Deputy Commissioner of Police, Junior Benjamin, who referred our questions to Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander.
01:53TV6 News tried to contact the Minister of Homeland Security via phone calls and WhatsApp messages, but those attempts were
02:00unsuccessful.
02:01Gonzalez says the issue is particularly concerning because the country remains under a state of emergency.
02:07He is calling on the government to clarify whether the Commissioner is absent, the reason for his absence,
02:14and who has been formally appointed to oversee the police service in his stead.
02:19The PNM chairman says he recognizes that there may be legitimate reasons for the Commissioner's absence,
02:25but believes the public should be told who is responsible for the leadership of the service.
02:30Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
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