British Govt to restart local Security Sector Reform Programme
British High Commissioner Gregg Quin makes a point during a press conference, yesterday
British High Commissioner Gregg Quin makes a point during a press conference, yesterday

THE British Government is currently working on an assessment aimed at restarting the Security Sector Reform Programme here.British High Commissioner Gregg Quinn announced at a press conference held yesterday at his Bel Air, Georgetown residence that his government would be pushing to have the programme restarted under a $550M aid to eight Commonwealth Caribbean states.

He said the British Government is likely to support the programme, and that President David Granger has repeatedly spoken of the need to have the programme here.

President David Granger, addressing the opening ceremony of the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Pegasus Hotel last June, announced that Guyana had approached the United Kingdom to have the programme restarted.

“We need to deal with the public security problem, and I have approached the British Government to restore the Security Sector Reform Plan,” Granger had then said.
The President’s remarks had come following a spate of crime in the country at that time.

High Commissioner Quinn told reporters yesterday that steps are underway to ensure that the programme is revived, but he could not state the amount of money to be allocated to the programme. Funding for the project in the past had come from the Department for International Development (DFID).

In 2007, the US$4.7B project was implemented, but 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.

In its defence, the British Government had said the Guyana Government had submitted a different proposal, which had focused on police modernisation rather than holistic approach to reform, as originally requested. The British had proposed to build a workable basis for improving national security while reducing crime in Guyana by 2011. As a result, the British Government proposed the putting together of a national security plan with the aim of increasing public confidence.

Notwithstanding the many challenges faced during that period, Quinn is optimistic that the project would get off the ground. The Guyana Government has said it has interest in the recommencement of the Security Reform Programme.

The British envoy has noted that his government will do an assessment and come up with a new plan with which all stakeholders can work.

Quinn also told reporters that statements made by the former Administration were not factual.

“…the claims of 2009 that we were seeking to impose and basically run Guyanese law enforcement, in our opinion, was without basis,” the British envoy has said. “We are not imposing, we are not seeking to impose…there was no attempt or desire on our part…there was a fundamental misunderstanding on their part,” he posited.

The British High Commissioner added that what emanates from the programme is “very much what the government wants to do.”
When progress is made on the restart of the programme, the High Commission will provide updates.
Infrastructure, health and economic development
Meanwhile, Guyana stands to benefit significantly in the areas of infrastructural work, health, and economic development from the British Government. The British envoy said his government will provide much needed support in several areas.

US$550M have been allocated by the British Government to assist eight Commonwealth Caribbean states in developmental works. The aid, which represents the largest foreign assistance provided in the region, will be disbursed through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Over the next six to twelve months, specific areas would be identified, and funding will be provided, Quinn told the media. Asked how much money would be allocated to each territory, the envoy said, “(We) haven’t allocated specific amounts to specific countries.” He explained that allocations will be made based on the quality of requests received from the countries that stand to benefit.

In the case of Guyana, Quinn pointed out that in the area of infrastructure, there are a variety of areas that can benefit. “A variety of things could be covered…the airstrips, bridges – Demerara Harbour Bridge…,” he said.

Quinn added that the British Government will be looking to the Guyana Government to “prioritise what they want.” He assured that his government will not be demanding anything of beneficiaries, as it is the role of governments to decide the projects they need implemented with the assistance of donor countries.

Additionally, Quinn said UK contractors are permitted to bid for projects in the region. He noted that they have to compete with regional contractors, and special preference would not be given to them.
Britain’s Prime Minster, David Cameron, announced in September, during his visit to Jamaica, that his government hopes to strengthen the relationship between the region and the UK.

By Ariana Gordon

 

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