A FORMER top United Kingdom military officer, Russell Combe has arrived in Guyana to assist with the implementation of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) which is part of a UK Funded initiative aimed at improving the security sector here.Combe on Monday met with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at his office as part of an introductory process. During that meeting, Combe, a retired Lieutenant Colonel briefed the Prime Minister about his experience over the years and his role here in Guyana by virtue of the programme.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo in welcoming Combe indicated Guyana’s willingness to work with him on a programme that should have begun some years ago. He told the former UK military officer, who is a para commando trained, that since taking office in May 2015 the APNU+AFC administration has worked tirelessly to improve the country’s security systems.

He noted that Guyana does not have “enormous resources” but has tried within its limitations to improve the security sector. The Prime Minister referred also to the revival of the National Security Committee and noted that the Defence Board meets regularly to discuss matters of national importance.

Additionally, Combe who has an impressive resume was informed of the country’s security architecture, including border patrols, the floating police station at the mouth of the Waini River, and the reduction of piracy to name a few. Speaking briefly with Guyana Chronicle after the courtesy call, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said he informed Combe there has been a reduction in the level of crime here but said he made it clear that crime remains an issue.

“I told him of our efforts when taking office, to instill and in some cases restore professionalism in the security sector into the officers so that citizens can regain a level of confidence in a bid to remove the stigma and perception of professional bodies being compromised,” the Prime Minister stated, while noting that his administration has achieved “quite a lot in the security sector but could do much more with the help of traditional partners such as Great Britain.”

The former UK military officer possesses global expeditionary experience, ranging from hands-on tactical level to the strategic political military interface. He is said to be proficient in the assessment, operational planning and conduct of security operations in complex and multi-agency environments, with host nation police services and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), whilst being mindful of corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagements.

Additionally, Combe transitioned to risk and security management with the associated training and logistical requirements for the oil and gas sector in East Africa and humanitarian operations with the Ebola Response Consortium in West Africa. He served as a team leader with a private security company in Mozambique and has considerable experience in austere, expeditionary environments and in the command and control of operational security in the field.

Meanwhile, since taking office in May 2015, President Granger indicated that it was his administration’s intention to have the SSRAP re-introduced. As such, over the past 20 months, the president has met with former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregg Quinn on the matter.

The US$4.7B SSRAP which began in 2007 was scrapped in 2009 after the British Government had requested to have oversight of the programme to ensure that there was ‘value for money’. The former People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration had disagreed with the manner in which the British Government had wanted the programme to be run, and had stated that the British had sought to intrude upon Guyana’s sovereignty.

But, in its defence, the British Government said the Government of Guyana had submitted a different proposal which had focused on police modernisation rather than a holistic approach to reform as was originally requested. The British’s intention was to build a workable basis for improving national security while reducing crime in Guyana by 2011.

With the implementation of the SSRAP, the President believes that Guyana’s security sector will be significantly strengthened. He said Guyana’s vast and porous borders have allowed for a number of illicit activities to take place.

Last September, the President pointed to the discovery of an illegal aircraft at Yupakari, Rupununi, Region Nine, and said with a strengthened police force, law enforcement officials would be in a better position to address such issues. “It is very likely that that aircraft was involved in illegal activities …Guyana still does not have the capability to protect its long borders, and its vast hinterland from being penetrated by illegal aviators and this emphasises the need for security sector reform,” he stated.

President Granger, a former Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has noted the need for there to be a stronger police force, one that is better equipped, with all tools necessary to function adequately. He noted that better pay is also important to reduce corruption among law enforcement officers. “We know there is not only illegal migration, there is also the smuggling of narcotics, contraband, gun-running, trafficking-in-persons and these crimes are going to be stamped out with a more efficient police force…the British involvement is essential to retraining the police force,” President Granger had stated.