– aims to involve women in communal law and order process
THE security of communities is important to this administration; and to further boost law enforcement, the Ministry of Home Affairs hosted its first ever Community Policing Women’s Convention Friday. The initiative at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary, under the theme “Working towards safer communities” is a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
Representatives from A, B, C, D, E, F and G community policing groups were present, and issues such as Trafficking in Persons (TIP), domestic violence, sexual harassment, noise nuisance, roles of rural constables, arrest and patrols, road safety and the role of women in community policing were discussed.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, delivering the feature address, emphasised the need for closer collaboration at a community level, noting that women can play an integral role in supporting their male counterparts in maintaining order in their respective communities.
He noted that the event, the first national conference ever held for women in community policing, is an indication of Government’s commitment to empowering women in self- sufficiency and national development.
Minister Rohee, expressing optimism that the session would be beneficial to the women, said that it would clearly assist them in understanding their role which should not be taken for granted.
This, he said, is the reason several organisations in society are playing significant roles to further enhance their lives.
While noting that law enforcement cannot be solely executed by the men alone, the Minister responsible for security also urged the women to lend full support to the police and other law enforcement agencies in the struggle for safety and security.
As for domestic violence, Minister Rohee said more women in society are being taken advantage of on a daily basis and, it is time for the scourge to come to an end.
Government has recognised that domestic violence is the most pervasive form of interpersonal violence in Guyana and through its National Policy on Domestic Violence, hopes to eliminate this ill from society.
In 1996, the Domestic Violence Legislation was enacted. The National policy on Domestic Violence was launched in 2008.
Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, told the convention that it is important for women to be sensitised to the role they can play at the community level, since the constitution stipulates that everyone has a responsibility to ensure community safety.
Reading the Police Act, Commissioner Greene said that it stipulates that any member of society can be called upon to render assistance to the cause of law and order, failing which that person can be prosecuted.
Speaking on the importance of community policing, Greene said that the Police Force has seen a decline in CPGs since the crime spree of 2002 which made a significant impact on their functions.
“The fact that we were dealing with people with heavy machinery (weapons), they became afraid, but after the death of ‘Fineman’ persons are now willingly offering their services to the Guyana Police Force,” he said.
While calling for consistency in community policing groups, the Top Cop told them that they can also be integrally involved in youth work, and financial and traffic lecture at the community level. (GINA)