THE Guyana Police Force on Thursday conducted a community outreach in the community of Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where several security and community-related issues were raised, discussed, and solutions arrived at.The team was headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police and ‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken, who was accompanied by Sub-Divisional Officer, Deputy Superintendent Norman Timmerman; and Officer in Charge of the Highway base, Inspector Lenox Barrington.

During his meeting with the nearly 100 residents, Hicken initiated moves to start three Community Policing Groups in the area. These will work with the police in patrolling the area and making the police knowledgeable of the hot spots within the community.

The residents were also presented with a vehicle to aid in their patrol duties. The vehicle, currently all in black, will, within a few days, be sprayed in the standard colours of the Guyana Police Force and be affixed with logos and other markings for it to be clearly identified as a police vehicle.

During their discussion with the senior police officers, residents not only ventilated concerns on security matters, but also issues of community development in the form of recreation, sporting facilities, and resource centres.

The meeting first saw the putting together of a working committee to address the issue of formation of the policing groups, and a confirmed decision to place a police traffic rank at a location on the highway where schoolchildren and other residents usually have to cross to make their way into the community.

Hicken, in his address, spoke to the issues of break-and-enter as was previously raised by the residents. He also told of the intentions of the Director of Youth, Christopher Jones, Regional

Chairman Claudette Henry and Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes to work along with the police in addressing the issues of the community, especially those on the community development front.

The issues of community clean-ups and the reduction of crimes, primarily break-and-enter, were ventilated. As they did in several other communities, the police will also provide the community with the resources to develop a cricket pitch and basketball court on an already identified piece of land, for recreational purposes in the community.
Early next week, the police will be ensuring that kits for Rural Constables in the area are delivered, according to Hicken, who was at the time responding to the issue after it was raised by several Rural Constables in the community. On Thursday, the police also delivered a small amount of sporting gear to the community.

By Leroy Smith