-Minister Rohee encourages stronger community-police relations
THE importance of collaboration and partnership between the community and ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was underscored last Saturday during a Community Policing Retreat at ‘E’ Division, Linden, Region 10.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, in his feature address, said the idea of hosting retreats at every police division was conceived after months of discussion on the ways through which the deficiencies in the community policing system can be corrected.
“The way forward lies in finding manageable solutions to the problems affecting Community Policing Groups (CPGs),” the Home Affairs Minister said.
Special emphasis was made on the aspect of visibility as it relates to CPGs in and around the neighbourhoods. Minister Rohee explained that residents must see what CPG members are doing to make their communities safe, as this would guarantee their support, thereby strengthening the system.
He said an overwhelming majority of the population wants to live in peace and security. However, there is still a small number of people who are bent on committing deviant behaviours. This, he said, is where the challenge lies.
Minister Rohee maintained that despite what is being conveyed in certain sections of the media, the security sector has not failed in achieving its purpose, but there is still a lot more that needs to be done.
Referring to the recent apprehension about teenaged gang leader, Tyrone Kacey Rowe known as ‘Cobra’, he said the reason why this wanted criminal decided to surrender was because he knew the Police Force was closing in on him and that it was only a matter of time before he was caught.
Rohee also lauded the Force for its intense crime detection work and excellent intelligence gathering in solving a case in Bartica, where two gold dealers were robbed and brutally killed.
He appealed to community members to support the police, as they are the only ones who are trained and are vested with the authority to deal with dangerous criminal elements.
“Government is moving in leaps and bounds in all sectors to improve the lives of all Guyanese. In the security sector, community policing is seen as an integral part of our crime fighting strategy,” Minister Rohee said.
Following the Minister’s speech, CPG members were placed in groups where they engaged in a highly interactive session. Here, the problems affecting community policing, ways to build and expand CPGs, and forging better relations with both the community and the police, were discussed in details.
At the end of the session, the members identified several issues that needed to be addressed and also made recommendations on possible solutions.
Among the recommendations were the execution of continuous training of members, financial incentives for outstanding performances, trained police officers to deal with social/welfare issues, strengthening the youth arm of the community policing system, guaranteed confidentiality in sharing sensitive information, building camaraderie through sporting events and other social activities and more effective communication and feedback.
CPG members expressed their satisfaction for the opportunity to air their concerns, and make their inputs known and lauded that Ministry for initiating the retreat.
Minister Rohee, in his closing remarks, assured that all the recommendations which, so far, has been of a similar nature among the divisions, will be reviewed and steps will be taken to implement them.
He urged CPG members to strengthen the relations with the community and be more proactive in their approach.
Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean that has a successful community policing system.
“All of this is part and parcel of our overall efforts to ensure national development. Security will lead to prosperity and the role you are playing is your contribution to national safety,” Minister Rohee said.
Thus far, successful retreats have been held at C and A Divisions. Meanwhile the members of F Division in Bartica, Region Seven will get their chance next week.  (GINA)