MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, told residents of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, that children not going to school and using drugs is not a Police problem but a social one which needs to be addressed at home by their parents and guardians.
Addressing a pubic meeting in Virginia Primary School, last week Thursday, he said the Police did not tell the deviants to behave the way they do but it is a result of poor supervision in the moulding of their character.
Rohee challenged the parents to provide guidance and engage their children who do not attend school and are visiting drug yards in that village.
“Residents, parents and the community have a responsibility to the children who are not going to school and that is why Government provides assistance to single parent mothers, realising that men are breeding women and leaving them alone to take care of several children,” he stated.
During his outreach visit, Rohee addressed several concerns raised by residents and informed them that the Ministry of Education is responsible for providing security guards at schools.
On the issue of noise nuisance in the community, his response was that the Government does not intend to provide and instrument to measure the level of decibels that blares from music systems in the village and the law enforcement agency must address the annoyance.
Rohee noted that there is an active Community Policing Group (CPG) in the village, with 31 members, eight of whom are rural constables, a number that is relatively small for a village of that size and urged residents to join the organisation and help Police the area.
He said: “I get very upset when I hear of problems of the CPG, which has been in existence for 34 years and that is why members need to conduct themselves in a manner that is pleasing to the community and maintain its visibility.”
Rohee said he was visiting to focus on the security and safety as it is in the interest of the State to fulfill its duty to that community, too.
He also went to Cane Grove Police Station, also in Mahaica, inspected the building after examining the Occurrence Book and spoke to the ranks present.
The need for more personnel at the station, security at schools, harassment of rice farmers by the Police and land development issues were also aired at the earlier meeting.
A 74-year-old woman complained that she applied for pension since she was at age 60 and is still awaiting the benefit.
Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Gavin Primo said his presence was to remind residents that the Police take remedial action where necessary to ensure the security of the community.
Administrator of the CPG Secretariat, Assistant Commissioner Ovid Glasgow spoke, too, about enhancing family and community relations and development.