Government over the years, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has demonstrated its commitment towards the modernisation and improvement of the Security System to ensure that the fundamental rights of citizens are protected.

Minister Rohee hands over a motor bike to the Guyana Police Force.

With a budgetary allocation of $13.6 B in 2009, the Ministry undertook several projects; these included the rehabilitation of a number of facilities that fall under its responsibilities to aid in the improvement of the services offered to the public.

In recognition of the changing security needs within the country, several new programmes, legislations and campaigns were also embarked upon. These included: the implementation of the breathalyzer system, the campaign against lewd drawings and slogans on minibuses, a massive legislative framework which aims at making provisions to modernise the sector and training programmes designed to enhance capacity within key security agencies, particularly the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The Guyana Police Force
The GPF celebrated its 170th Anniversary on July 18. Government, recognising the vital role of the Force, provided extensive support to mobilise and improve every aspect of its operations.

Crime Prevention Conference
In order to address crime and violence in a holistic manner, the Home Affairs Ministry hosted the National Crime Prevention Conference (NCPC) in November, under the theme “Making Our Communities Safe,” at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC). The conference brought together a number of individuals with recognised expertise and extensive experience in the development of strategies to reduce crimes and violence in communities. A group of international facilitators was also present to critically analyse the deliberations and to give their suggestions and views on how to effectively deal with crime prevention.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee underscored the importance of crime prevention as an effective law enforcement tool that is far less expensive.

He said that despite the increasing challenges over the years, the GPF has recorded much success in its investigations and other efforts to combat crime. He said that by the end of October, there was a reduction in murders and other serious crimes when compared with the corresponding period in 2008.

Support for CPGs
Additionally, much focus has been placed on the formation of Community Policing Groups (CPGs). Currently there are 187 established voluntary CPGs which receive support from the government in the form of vehicles and boats.

Training
The dire need for trained officers in the Force became evident; and in this regard, the Ministry moved in the direction of training officers in various disciplines. As part of the Citizens Security Programme, 24 courses from a Comprehensive Training Plan was recently launched. The courses are very interactive and provide a modern learning theory which will equip officers with much needed skills, knowledge, attitude and tools to be effective in executing their duties.

Modern Data Centre
Government recognised the importance of the use of technology in arresting crimes and criminals. As such, it has committed to upgrading technical capacity within the armed forces. In August, a $60M state-of-the-art data centre was commissioned at the Eve Leary Headquarters.

This centre, which is another project executed through the Government of Guyana – Inter-American Development Bank (GOG/IDB) partnership, provides for linking of all police stations whose data systems are compatible thereby reducing the delay in transmission of critical data to the relevant centres.

Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee at the commissioning of the new Data Centre at Eve Leary Headquarters.

This highly modernised facility is crucial to the coordination of data and the speed at which information flow will take place among the various points. It will be integral to the improvement of public safety, reduction of deaths, and the achievement of all the objectives the force has set itself.

Through the GOG/IDB partnership, $170M was spent on remodelling 12 police stations in Regions Four and Six. Each of these stations now has a case management room, a modern interrogation room, an ID parade and witness room, a room for domestic violence victims, and a waiting room for children.

The Guyana Fire Service
Prior to 1
992, the Guyana Fire Service’s (GFS) response to fire was at its minimum; and recognising the deficiency, Government embarked on a venture to retool the entity to meet the challenges faced in the ongoing expansion of housing and commerce sectors.

In early 2009, the GFS received a quantity of fire fighting equipment and gear from the French Guiana Ambassador to Guyana Richard Barbeyron.

The 2009 budgetary allocation of $318M for the GFS was used to upgrade and purchase new equipment, expand training and other educational subventions and maintain fire stations.

Fire tenders that were handed over to the Guyana Fire Service during fire prevention week.

In October, the Service observed “Fire Safety Month,” an event which marks the anniversary of the world’s worst conflagration. The Month was observed under the theme “Fire Prevention Needs Everyone’s Attention” and was complemented with a series of Fire Safety Fairs and drills at Fire Stations, schools and community centres across the country.

Government’s commitment to ensuring fire safety was further exemplified with the provision of over five fire-fighting units comprising three water tenders, a water carrier and a Land Rover.

The Guyana Defence Force
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) recognises that Guyana is at one purpose with her Caribbean sister states and that is to guarantee the well-being of all Caribbean citizens. As such, during the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009, the Force deployed troops to the twin-island republic to assist in logistics planning, analysis, and strategy development, maritime and air operations planning, reconnaissance analysis, intelligence operations and information processing.

Troops were again deployed to Trinidad and Tobago in November for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). These troops were deployed in accordance with the Visiting Forces Act 2007 of Guyana, the Visiting Forces Act of Trinidad and Tobago and the Treaty of Security Assistance among CARICOM Member States.

The GDF is very much an integral part of the Guyanese nation in that it is regularly involved in community tasks, national development and emergency missions, when use is made of the resources and equipment that are at its disposal. This was demonstrated by the Special Forces’ heroic efforts in a search and retrieval operation for the body of the late 23-year-old Aliya Bulkan, who leapt to her death from the top of the 741 ft Kaieteur Falls.

On the occasion of its 44th anniversary, a pledge was made by Chief-of-Staff Commodore Gary Best to continue to forge partnerships with civil society, the Government and the people it serves, and to optimise resources in ensuring that collective tasks and responsibilities are underscored by accountability.

The Guyana Prison Service
Government’s efforts to modernise and enhance the operations of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) saw the management of the Service being reviewed to address issues such as overcrowding. The strategic plan devised will see the prison serving the purpose of a correctional facility.

Over the years, Government has placed major emphasis on reforming prisoners through various literacy and skills training programmes, so that they will be able to make meaningful contributions towards the development of the country.

This strategic plan will be further consolidated with training programmes for Prison Officers, as well as training for prisoners by the Guyana Prison Service Training Board. The programme is designed to facilitate prisoners’ reintegration into society upon their release from incarceration.

Several contracts were also awarded for the rehabilitation of prisons around the country. Additionally, a Retraining Area, strong cells and Inner Sterile Area will be constructed at the New Amsterdam Prison and Officers Quarters at the Lusignan Prison.

Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU)
In 2009, CANU, which was set up in an effort to assist in curbing narco-trafficking, celebrated its 14th anniversary. This unit is seen as a potential National Drug Enforcement Agency, commanding the respect of other law enforcement agencies in Guyana, CARICOM, the hemisphere and the international community.

Deficiencies in terms of manpower are currently being addressed and its objectives reviewed in order to realise the full potential and scope with respect to its operations. Recently, members of CANU were polygraphed, and those who were found unsuitable were dismissed.

CANU conducted several drug busts during 2009; the most recent involved a collaborative effort with officers from Seafreight Shipping Limited, which led to the seizure of nine packets of compressed marijuana aboard the MV Stadt Luneburg, arriving in Guyana.

Legislation
Government remained steadfast in its commitment to security sector reform and several landmark pieces of legislation were laid before the National Assembly in 2009.

These include the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Bill, the Private Security Services (Regulation) Bill, The Fire Prevention (Amendment) Bill, the Fire Service (Amendment) Bill, the Prison Service (Amendment) Bill and the Mutual
Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill.

The passage of these Bills places Law Enforcement Agencies in a much better position to combat crime and violence more effectively. (GINA)