MoU signed among law enforcement agencies –in crackdown on illegal cross-border activities
Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips as he accepted the signed MOU from Minister Rohee (Photos by Samuel Maughn)
Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips as he accepted the signed MOU from Minister Rohee (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

HEADS of four key law enforcement agencies involved in the fight against cross-border crime on Thursday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on an Agreed Standard Operational Procedures Document (SOPs).The agencies at reference are the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Head of GRA Commissioner, Khurshid Sattaur, and Head of GEA, Mahender Sharma affixing their signatures yesterday to the MOU, while Head of CANU, James Singh looks on
Head of GRA Commissioner, Khurshid Sattaur, and Head of GEA, Mahender Sharma affixing their signatures yesterday to the MOU, while Head of CANU, James Singh looks on

The MoU will govern the use of the Police Floating Patrol Base by other members of the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband for Operational Purposes, and will enhance cooperation and collaboration among the agencies.
The signing took place at the Courtney Benn Contracting Services Facility at Thom and Cameron Wharf, located at Lot 13 “A” Water Street, Georgetown, and was witnessed by invitees, including senior officers of the GPF and members of the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband.

In opening remarks, Coordinator of the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband, Floyd McDonald, said the vessel which is fully operational will be located in the vicinity of the mouth of the Waini River, Region 1 (Barima-Waini).

He added that when the construction of the Police Floating Base was conceptualised by the MoHA it was decided that it would be prudent that four other agencies could use the vessel for closer inter-agency cooperation.

McDonald stated that the first draft of the document was prepared in October 2013 and after a series of consultations with other stakeholders, they were able to fully complete the document in the first quarter of 2014 but were awaiting the advancing of the construction of the vessel.

He noted that the document mirrors the MOU signed on February 13, 2014 a the MoHA boardroom that allowed agencies to use the GDF Floating Base that is located in the Pomeroon River and that MOU was successfully implemented and a number of joint operations and patrols have commenced on that facility.

Representing the GPF, Assistant Commissioner Balram Persaud said the GPF sees this as a further capitalisation of its assets.

He added that the Floating Base which is strategically located in Waini will counter piracy, smuggling and other illegal activities, including illegal fishing coming from the Venezuelan side of the border.

Persaud said, “We are aware that this facility will enable us a quicker response time to incidents emanating from out in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Waini and Barima areas. Although there are stations along the way, the need for the Floating base because of the connection of the Barima and Waini Rivers by the Mora passage it was necessary for a Floating base to be present in response to incidents in the Waini and the Atlantic Ocean.”

Members of the head table
Members of the head table

He pointed out that there have been reports in the past of piracy in the Waini area and reports of smuggling and we are aware that the border between Guyana and Venezuela cross-cuts the Barima River, part of which the mouth of the Barima River and the other part which is on the Venezuelan side there is access from Barima River directly into Waini River bypassing the Morawhanna Police Station by just a few minutes.

Persaud said the GPF sees this as a strong effort by the authorities to reduce illegal activities off the Waini coast and through the other adjoining rivers.

He pointed out that the Floating Base is an important tool in the arsenal in fighting crimes and other illegal activities and cooperation among other law- enforcement agencies would be paramount for the effective operation of the facility

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said the MOU will solidify and bring into legal effect the cooperation between the entities that agreed to collaborate and cooperate in the efficient management and operation of the Floating Base.

Rohee told the gathering yesterday morning that the Floating Base is the second of its kind and the idea came from the GDF. The Army was the first to conceptualise a vessel of that type and bring it into full operation. The MoHA, while recognising the importance and usefulness of such a vessel, decided that the GPF needed a vessel of that type.

The minister added that the GDF provided the model of the vessel, for joint cooperation of members of the security sector is part and parcel of joint capacity- building. Further,he said that for each agency to use resources efficiently and effectively in keeping with its respective mandate, it became necessary for them to collaborate.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips signs the MOU
Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips signs the MOU

Rohee noted that theTask Force was formed several years ago for inter-agency cooperation and for the advancement of the mandates of government departments and agencies, which will see capacity building at every level thus fulfilling our social and economic development.

He said fighting piracy, smuggling and contraband remains a challenge for Guyana, which has borders with other countries and the Atlantic Ocean as well.

Rohee stated that a country such as ours, which has a massive network of rivers and huge seas and rivers to cover to protect our national sovernity and territorial integrity requires us to be building capacity to take advantage of the resources that we have and the water and land capacity that we have to fight illegal activities.

The minister added that the location of the vessel is strategic, since a lot went into it for enhanced cooperation and collaboration and the signing of the MOU signals

 The Police Floating Base moored at the Courtney Benn Wharf
The Police Floating Base moored at the Courtney Benn Wharf

government’s commitment to ensure that law enforcement agencies have the necessary tools to conduct their lawful activities and this vessel is a concrete manifestation of government’s commitment in that respect.

Rohee said that security, whether on land or at sea will always be a work in progress since it is an incomplete process and it is a costly exercise that requires resources to be available at all times, noting that the security sector in Guyana is becoming more challenging and complex which requires responses that are adequate.

He explained that because of massive investment in our country, the interior has developed both in economic activities and population and such a vessel will respond to the needs of the people .

Rohee added that a proactive approach needs to be adopted and the inking of the MOU to enhance law enforcement effectiveness and state security and also the economic development of our country and counter illegal activities such as smuggling contraband. (Michel Outridge)

 

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.