Dear Editor,
We note the recent directive issued by the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs instructing all police ranks to remove tint from their private motor vehicles unless they possess a valid tint permit. While the principle that the law must apply equally to everyone is understood, the directive does not consider the real dangers that police ranks face daily nor does it reflect the long-standing relationship between the Government and the Joint Services.
Successive PPP/C administrations have traditionally maintained a strong rapport with members of the Disciplined Services. Year after year ranks are publicly recognised for their contribution to national security and during every election cycle, officers are reminded that the Government values their work, their sacrifice and their vote. Police ranks consistently support the country’s stability, serve in every region without hesitation and stand firm in the face of criminal threats that many will never fully appreciate. It is therefore disappointing that the very people who are expected to uphold the law and protect the nation are now being placed in positions that compromise their own safety.
Tint on a police rank’s private vehicle is not a matter of privilege, it is an issue of personal security and operational necessity. Ranks routinely arrest dangerous individuals, dismantle criminal networks, seize weapons and narcotics and carry out operations that make them targets both on and off duty. Without tint, officers become highly visible and easily monitored by those who may wish to retaliate. Criminals can track their movements, identify their vehicles, observe their families and compromise their safety with alarming ease. No officer should have to choose between protecting the public and protecting themselves and their loved ones.
It is also important to acknowledge the environmental realities of policing in Guyana. Ranks spend long hours in the sun directing traffic, conducting investigations, working at scenes and responding to emergencies. Tint provides basic protection against the harsh heat and glare, reducing fatigue and enhancing alertness on the road. These are not trivial concerns; they directly affect officer performance, well-being and safety.
Given the longstanding relationship between the current administration and the Joint Services, one would expect that decisions impacting officers’ day-to-day safety would involve consultation, understanding and fairness. Instead, many ranks now feel dismissed, undervalued and sidelined by a directive that appears to overlook the realities of policing. It sends the unfortunate message that officers are to be relied upon when needed, yet disregarded when their own protection and comfort require consideration.
The solution is not to expose officers unnecessarily, but to implement a structured, transparent and fair tint-permit system specifically designed for all police ranks. Such a system would ensure full compliance with the law while recognising the unique risks that officers face. Equal application of the law does not mean ignoring the unequal dangers of the job.
Police officers deserve a policy that protects them as they protect the public. Respect for the Disciplined Services must be reflected not only in speeches but in decisions that safeguard their lives, their families and their ability to serve effectively.
In closing, we respectfully call on His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali to consider the concerns of the men and women of the Guyana Police Force. Ranks continue to serve this nation with loyalty, discipline and sacrifice, often under dangerous and thankless circumstances. We are simply asking for a policy that reflects the realities of our work and protects us as we protect the public. A fair and regulated tint-permit system for police ranks would go a long way in restoring confidence, improving safety and reaffirming the value that the Government has always claimed to place on its Joint Services.