CONTINUOUS training for members of the Guyana Police Force to deal with almost any eventuality remains high on the priority agenda of Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud and his corps of senior officers.

The Guyana Chronicle was yesterday invited by the Force to view one of its twice-weekly training exercises comprising Tactical Services Unit ranks who have been receiving training to respond to riots and other acts of public disorder and unlawful gathering.

There are presently 34 ranks participating in the ongoing training at various levels under the Riot Unit Public Order Squad of the TSU on the Drill Square of the Guyana Police Force at its Headquarters at Eve Leary.

Yesterday’s training was conducted under the watchful eyes of Officer in Charge of the Tactical Services Unit, Supt Errol Watts, and several other officers who were present in the compound at the time.

The training this newspaper witnessed showed that the ranks were going through routines on how, with little or no force at all, to confront members of the public on the picket line and who comprise riotous and demonstrative mobs.

Of importance during the training was the manner in which ranks who were expected to be on the frontline to confront any eventuality involving disruption of public order were being trained to confront openly hostile crowds. The approach the police rehearsed in their stimulus exercise was a non-violent one.

Only two months ago, this publication had stumbled on a similar exercise being conducted in the compound of the Police “A” Division Headquarters. When contacted then, “A” Division Commander Hicken had said that the men were not being trained because of elections talks which are in the air.

Over the years, the Guyana Police Force has been receiving unfavourable reviews with respect to their handling or disbursing of unlawful gatherings of people. For its part, the police, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, procured a Water Cannon which, ironically, has been criticised by persons in some sections.

Of recent, the hierarchy has been working to revolutionise the entire Guyana Police Force and its approach in dealing with members of the public on every single front. The initiative has been commended by members of the business community and by several other persons, who have been offering public support to the police both in writing and in the form of monetary contributions.