THE Guyana Police Force yesterday officially kicked off its 2014 month-long activities to mark its 175th anniversary.A Drum Head Church Service on the Drill Square at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, in Georgetown signalled the commencement of activities.

Before Reverend Raphael Messiah of the First Assembly of God Church got the ceremony underway, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Balram Persaud spoke to the ranks.
The Assistant Commissioner told them that at no point should they ever believe that they are above the law and cautioned them against breaking the law to uphold the law. Persaud indicated that while members of the force may be chastised by the very persons they are working hard to serve and protect, they should ensure that they remain resolute to the cause and understand the importance of the oath of office they took.
In his address, Reverend Messiah emphasised to the members of the force and past officers that humility should be the key factor of those serving officers and the understanding that they need to work on the whole idea of fostering public acceptance of the police.
The scriptures were taken from the Books of Matthew in the New Testament and Amos in the Old Testament. The preacher cautioned ranks that they must always remember the ones who served before them since they are standing on the strength and shoulders of those who walked the walk before them.
Police ranks were cautioned to determine if at the end of their career they would want to be leaving the Guyana Police Force in a better position they entered or a worse one.
The Guyana Police Force has been of service over the 175 years of its existence because it is relevant and this is evident given the ability of serving and past members to police the country via air, land and water.
The leaders of the Guyana Police Force were reminded that they would only prove that they are worth their salt if they speak up against injustice rather than have others do so on their behalf. Manhood and leadership are dependent and judged on the ability to be responsible and accept responsibility for one’s actions, Messiah firmly stated.
Rather than having that stigma which is widely associated with the police where members of the public go in another direction on seeing the police, the preacher stated that the force needs to work on rebuilding the relationship it once had where persons see the police and feel that sense of protection and could approach a cop and carry on a conversation.
He challenged the members of the force to pay very close attention to the best practices of the force and encouraged the organisation to ensure that every single rank who enters the force at the level of the training school is very equipped and familiar with what the best practices of the Guyana Police Force are.

(By Leroy Smith )