Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee met members of the South Ruimveldt Phase 1 Community Policing group, at the Quentin residence, Newton Proffit Square, at the weekend.
The meeting followed a discussion on June 14 last between the Minister and leading members of the group at his Brickdam office.
At that meeting, the issues of the rejuvenation of the group, the installation of Rural Constables, firearms for patrol, and community infrastructural enhancement were discussed.
Sunday, the Minister toured the community to “better appreciate” the circumstances under which the group would operate.
There was a general consensus among residents that the area needed better police patrols, street lighting and vegetation control, to help discourage criminals. Residents said that the roads in the community needed to be repaired to facilitate effective patrols. They also pointed out that the high level of unemployed youths in the area is a cause for concern and is a factor that contributes to criminal activity. Minister Rohee, in his response, said that the issue of unemployment is a national one that needed to be addressed holistically. He said that many of the issues stemming from unemployment must be dealt with a balance between law enforcement and social intervention.
On the question of patrols, the Minister said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has saturated community policing groups with the tools necessary to facilitate effective patrols. He said that notwithstanding a visible police presence, the community needed to do patrols to discourage criminality.
Labelling the overgrowth of vegetation in certain areas as “dangerous” from a security perspective, Minister Rohee says that his Ministry stands ready to donate grass cutters to the area’s development group should they indicate the need.
The Minister said that the issues of infrastructure were already forwarded to Minister Robeson Benn, who indicated that an engineer will be dispatched to study the issue and to report to his Ministry about possible courses of action. The issue of lights, Minister Rohee said, was also raised with the Office of the Prime Minister.
Also present at the meeting was Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, who indicated that the City Council stands ready to engage residents on matters of concern to them, in the new week.
Head of the National Community Policing Group ‘A’ Division, Rawle Bryden, noted that in accordance with its mandate, the organization stands ready to assist the South Ruimveldt group. (GINA)