I wish to commend President Bharrat Jagdeo and his government for taking the initiative to better equipping Community Policing Groups which will certainly improve the fight against crime. This initiative by His Excellency, I am sure was done with the intention to have Community Policing Groups working in comfort and satisfaction. For taking this initiative, I am certain the President is firm in his belief that Community Policing can contribute significantly in support of the Guyana Police Force in the fight against crime.

Nevertheless, I am also certain that His Excellency is not in agreement with the way the money was expended in acquiring this equipment. The $50M that was made available was spent unwisely.

Let’s take a look at the vehicles that were purchased by the Ministry of Home Affairs as a part of this initiative. These vehicles are not conducive for the activity or the intention for which they were purchased. Also, the communication sets purchased are not durable and cannot be communicated on within a one-mile radius.

I am confident that the procurement of this inferior equipment was deliberate for a huge draw back by those trusted to spend the $50M in the best interest of Community Policing and in the fight against crime.

I now ask the question, can the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Minister of Home Affairs account for the $50M. I would suggest that the Auditor General Office carry out an audit and publish the facts of their findings.

Mr. Editor, it’s appalling that after 32 years of existence and the Lusignan massacre, community policing is now receiving a generous enhancement that is tarnished by incompetence.
B. GOMES