– urges them to play their part in maintaining a safer community
Government’s method of open and inclusive governance continues to be evident as officials visit various communities to meet with the ‘grassroots’ and address issues affecting them.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, Tuesday, re-visited residents of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, Region Three, to address security and other issues affecting them and to provide suggestions and solutions. Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber was also present at the meeting.
Some of the issues raised include stray animals on the public road, a constant noise nuisance and robberies around the Tuschen market area.
Minister Rohee stated that noise nuisance must be reported to the nearest police station or the Environmental Protection Agency, so that action may be taken against perpetrators.
Residents complained that the stray cattle on the public road disrupt the flow of vehicular traffic, as they suddenly appear in front of vehicles and pose danger to motorists and other road users.
Minister Rohee suggested that persons from the community volunteer to sign up for the stray catchers job, in order to catch the animals and take them to the nearest pound.
In addition, he stated that the residents have to assume responsibility for the animals by either taking them to the pound or keeping them off the roads; failing which the Ministry will employ persons and hire trucks to go to various communities, and transport the animals to the pound.
Minister Rohee noted that before the passage of the Pound Bill, animal pounds were rehabilitated in many areas. He said that pounds will be resuscitated within the region.
Residents also complained that they had applied for firearm licences since 2002; however, they have received no reply.
The Minister was told that their cattle pasture was repossessed for house lot allocation and that drainage and irrigation was also an issue.
Faerber advised that residents seek the assistance of Ministries of Agriculture and Housing and Water to deal with the related issues as the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has no authority to deal with them.
He added that the NDC will visit the area that has the drainage and irrigation problem to give some form of assistance.
Faerber also emphasised that the NDC will address the security matter, which includes the small thefts in the area.

Minister Rohee noted that the Community Policing Groups should work cohesively with members of the Guyana Police Force to secure the lives of residents in and around the area, and  this will reduce the amount of petty thefts that occur.
He reminded the residents that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of citizens, thus it provided land and water transport to the CPGs, in order for them to be equipped to respond to calls from citizens.

Every year, Government, in the National budget allocates  significant sums of money to the security sector, recognizing the importance of creating a safe environment for citizens.
Minister Rohee stated that it is the civic responsibility of residents to report all breaches of the law when police ranks are not around.
He maintained too that reports from citizens must be kept confidential by the police as this will earn the trust of the residents.
Minister Rohee has recently been visiting communities to promote the formation and  resuscitation of Community Policing Groups, as well as to address other concerns of residents.(GINA)