Commissioner
of Police Winston James will resign from the post in August.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday at a press conference in St. George¹s,
James confirmed that he will bid goodbye to the Royal Grenada
Police Force (RGPF) in the next five months.
Asked about
reports that he was planning to resign from the force, the island¹s
Chief Cop said that his resignation "is compulsory"
since he has attained the age to leave the public service. James
said that he has not yet decided on his future plans after he
resigns but will definitely maintain some level of relationship
with the force.
Police
insiders have confided to this newspaper that James is under
pressure from a number of persons to leave the force in order
to protect his image as "a clean and decent" officer
in light of suspected political interference. There are unconfirmed
reports that certain officers are being called to the Ministry
of National Security in the Botanical Gardens and promoted without
the knowledge of the Commissioner.
A source
close to RGPF said he is fearful about the political directorate
engaging in certain activities and hiding behind the good public
image of the Commissioner. James, a resident of Mt Granby, St
John¹s, was confirmed in the post of Commissioner of Police
less than a month ago.
A long-standing
member of RGPF, James was asked to take up the post of Acting
Commissioner when the the holder of the post Fitzroy Bedeau
was forced to take early leave due to his dismal performance
during the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
Bedeau
and others members of the Police High Command were severely
criticised by a government-appointed committee to look into
the activities of the force including allegations of looting
involving some police officers.
Commissioner
James was enlisted in the local force in 1967, and underwent
his initial training at the Regional Training Centre in Barbados.
He has
had years of extensive training in the areas of intelligence,
Criminal Investigation and Management among others.
In September,1990, he was promoted to the post of Assistant
Commissioner of Police (ACP).
