A total of $24.6 billion has been allocated for the development and modernization of the security sector this year.

The money is intended to be used to enforce the arms of the state with the resources to enable them to serve citizens, engender investor confidence and build trust and goodwill in the business community.

In 2015, $21.1 billion was expended to support the implementation of priority actions stemming from the strategic plans that were developed for the Ministry of Public Security, the Police Force, the Prisons Service and the Guyana Fire Service.

The Budget for the Public Security Sector adds to US$15 million Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP), launched last Monday, which will contribute nationally to reducing crime and violence through a comprehensive approach that combines preventive strategies with institutional strengthening activities.

The programme will address three specific problems: the high incidence of violent behaviour at the community level; the low effectiveness of the police to prevent and investigate crime at the national level; and the high number of repeat offenders.