Police Commissioner, Greene.

Police Commissioner, Henry Greene threatened police commanders to seek the help of the phone companies to trace which one them might have forwarded a gag-order text to a privately-owned newspaper.

Greene, who recently returned from sick leave due to two surgeries , according to the privately-owned Kaieteur News newspaper, issued a Text-message directive on June 7 stating that only the Police Commissioner, Police Chief of Criminal Investigations or the Traffic Chief could speak to the media.

“I am directing that the long outstanding order to the effect that only the COP, ACLE and the Traffic Chief speak to the media. All other Commanders are to shut their mouths with immediate effect.”

Greene, in a heated outburst at the beginning of  this week's Wednesday meeting with Commanders, told them that he could no longer trust them since the leakage of the message to the media.

He reiterated that he is the Police Commissioner and that was his directive. And to that, the commanders replied that he is the police commissioner and no one wanted to usurp his authority.

Demwaves.com was told that although then Police Commissioner, Winston Felix had reached agreement with the Guyana Press Association that Commanders should speak with the media, that change was never formally made.

Greene’s reversal of Felix’s decision comes as government prepares to introduce Freedom of Information legislation. Several senior members of the police force believe that the decision by the Police Commissioner is a backward step, in light of regional and international efforts to cultivate better relations between the security forces and the media and greater access to timely and accurate information.

Since Greene’s decision, several reporters who cover the crime-beat have told demwaves.com that the Police Commissioner has not answered or returned calls to them. His directive, they say, defeats the purpose.

The usually cooperative Police Chief of Criminal Investigations, Seelall Persaud is only accessible while in office and cannot be reached on his mobile phones in cases of emergency or after hours.

The Public Relations Department of the Guyana Police Force often disseminates releases late in the day. Many of the releases are not timely and do not provide enough details of incidents. Often times, the Public Relations Officer does not have any information on incidents.

The latest instance is that the police force has not issued any release or provided official details on the major cocaine bust in Region Seven.