VICE Chairman of the Leguan Island Community Policing Group (CPG)-G2 Division, Mr John Hayes, has big plans for improving the assistance the body offers to residents in the various communities, including acquiring an emergency boat and a fire truck. He, along with the other new executives of the CPG, was appointed at the Annual General Meeting a few weeks ago. Mrs Nandani Narine is Liaison Officer to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, while Mrs Linda Hayes serves as Secretary.
The new group has managed to accomplish quite a lot since its appointment, including brush-cutting and the distribution of food hampers. In fact, together with donations from members and residents, the group was able to pull off a massive food drive recently.
According to the Vice Chairman, the CPG was able to prepare 39 hampers that weighed 60 pounds each. Furthermore, he said the group does emergency food drives when these become necessary.
The CPG also engages in search-and-rescue operations. For instance, an elderly man went missing recently, and the group found him dead on the beach. He had apparently died by drowning.
“We took him to the hospital, and subsequently helped the family with the funeral arrangements,” Hayes said.
Apart from financial contributions, Hayes said the CPG also administers first aid, and clean up trenches and roadways. For example, over a three-day period, group members were able to collect 250 bags of garbage.
“We still have more to do. I wish people would understand that the river does not wash anything away,” Hayes stressed, with reference to the practice of residents dumping garbage in the river.
“We also helped the Mangrove Society to clean up the beach area. In fact, we are moving around the entire island to clean up all of the roads. The old administration did nothing for the island. We are not accepting monetary donations right now, because we want to show the people what we can do. But in future, we will be doing raffles, rallies, and other fund-raising activities. We have been running around the island like crazy. I want to show them what we’re capable of first, before accepting money,” an enthusiastic Hayes stated.
He added: “I would like to acquire an emergency boat, about 40 feet, with ramps and other facilities for the elderly. I have personally seen how they are abused in the small speedboats. I also wish to acquire a fire truck before the end of my term.”
Hayes spoke highly of the CPG officers, who all operate on a voluntary basis. “I have the best CPG officers in all of Guyana. They work really hard. We have about 50 active members in six groups across the island. We put in about 60 hours of work each week,” he said.
Meanwhile, Linda Hayes pointed out that the CPG has a Facebook Page and can be reached under the name ‘Leguan Island Community Policing Group’, or on telephone number 679-3224.
Narine offered that ever since the new executives have come on board, the CPG has been organised and is doing more for the communities. She also said there is much more to be done by the body.
The six CPGs in Leguan were happy to have received a Nissan Pickup, PSS 2738, from the then Ministry of Home Affairs, which is intended to significantly assist the communities with police patrols and emergencies.
Narine had told this newspaper that the aim of community policing is to work along with the police station on the island to help keep the communities crime-free, and to aid in developmental works.
According to her, a system is in place to ensure that each group will benefit from the use of the vehicle. She explained that when a patrol has been planned, the group informs the police station, which in turn sends along an officer.
The six groups are La Bagatelle/Waterloo, Therins/Phoenix, Enterprise/Blenheim, Eastern Leguan, Northern Leguan and Tweksbury Vertrouwen.
By Telesha Vidya Ramnarine
