At annual conference…
THE annual Guyana Police Force (GPF) Inspectors and Sergeants Conference began at the Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, Georgetown
yesterday, with Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee highlighting issues that should be addressed this year. He said he would like to see better accountability, both financial and managerial, by sergeants and inspectors, evident and
heightened activities undertaken to reduce incidents of crime and traffic violations in the various districts.
Rohee also mentioned enhanced preparations, earliest, for the upcoming general elections and greater awareness of the need for
security promoted in communities.
He recognised the necessity for an expansion of neighbourhood policing and greater collaboration with respective communities to combat crime as part of the thrust.
The minister said that expanding and revitalising of Station Management Committees must be done and steps taken to ensure that allegations of corruption against ranks are reduced.
He told the gathering that, with general elections expected during 2011: “It is, therefore, fitting that this Conference of
Inspectors and Sergeants should be held at this time. I have also noted that this activity is being held a few weeks before the Annual Police Officers’ Conference. I consider this event to be critical to the proper functioning of the Guyana Police Force in many respects.”
He said it allows for him to enlighten the middle level managers on some of the government’s security policies, especially as they relate to their day to day work.
Rohee noted that it also provides an opportunity for the concerns of the Ministry of Home Affairs, as regards their performance as middle level supervisors of the force, to be brought to their notice.
He said matters that are of relevance to the proper functioning of stations should be discussed by senior management of the
force at the  forum.
“You, as stakeholders at this conference, are provided with a unique opportunity to air your concerns to your superiors and
make suggestions for the improvement of the delivery of service to the public by the rank and file of the force,” the minister
observed.
He said the 2011 elections would require the force to be properly prepared for such an event and officers have to ensure they
are aware of the laws relating to the duties of the police during the voting period, including the policing of political meetings to
make sure law and order are maintained.
“You should be fully aware of the Public Order Act and its requirements of you as police managers. You are required to ensure that the relevant training of your juniors is undertaken well in advance of the elections,” Rohee noted.

EXTRA DUTIES
He also advised that officers, in their preparations, should include the provision of welfare facilities for their staff, in
anticipation of the extra duties that the ranks will be required to perform and not await instructions from your superiors to conduct
your needs assessments for the elections.
“This should be done by you as part of your preparatory functions for the event,” Rohee urged them.
He said, his ministry, responsible for public safety in Guyana, recognises the critical role the GPF has to play in the
improvement of the welfare of citizens through the provision of better security in all communities.
According to him, in order to aid in the achievement of that goal, a number of initiatives have been taken by the ministry, among
them the provision of more equipment for the technical aspects of the operations; provision of additional land and water transport to
assist patrols; the improvement of the physical facilities and improving the welfare of all ranks.

Additionally, Rohee said the government, with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) started the Citizens
Security Project (CSP) two years ago and, through its continuation, it is envisaged that the GPF will be modernised to meet the
challenges and demands of the 21st century.
He said the benefits to be derived include the increase in the use of information technology (IT) to record and analyse incidents
of crime and traffic violations to support prevention and enforcement activities; improvement in the delivery of training to the
junior and middle level managers and general capacity building in the force.
However, Rohee said the critical issue of the project is that there must be a buy-in by the persons who are to be the
beneficiaries of the various deliverables – members of the force.
“I, therefore, urge the force administration to use the opportunity provided at today’s conference to update the inspectors and
sergeants on the current status of the CSP, including the community component which is also ongoing,” he said.
Rohee said one of the basic principles of policing is that the police are required to provide a service to the community but, at
the same time, they would not be successful in the performance of their functions if the support and consent of the public is absent.
He said it, therefore, means that there must be present, in any successful policing district, a high degree of cooperation
between the police and the community if the work of the former is to succeed, a principle that is recognised internationally.
“As middle level supervisors, you cannot be successful in your work if you remain distant from your communities. So, I urge you
to take steps to forge closer cooperation with your respective communities,” Rohee admonished them.
Acknowledging that there has been greater support for community policing groups (CPGs) by junior ranks of the force, he suggested
there could be improvements in this regard.
Rohee said complaints of non-cooperation, by some junior members of the force, with groups are still being received by his
ministry.
“You should also remember that it is traditional that the support of Rural Constables will be required by the force in its
overall security plan for the elections to be held during this year. You should take the opportunity to expand Community Policing
Groups in your districts, this year,” he intoned.

RURAL DISTRICTS
Rohee said that is critical to policing in the rural districts particularly and Neighbourhood Police should be allowed to work as
they are now an integral part of the force and should be supported and guided accordingly.
He said he is still not satisfied that enough work is being done, at the level of police stations, to help in the functioning of
Station Management Committees (SMCs).
The minister said he is of the view that there is need for more efforts to be made, by the inspectors and sergeants in charge of
stations, to enhance the work of the SMCs.
“It must be understood that these bodies can contribute, significantly, to the process of forging better police/community
relations. This is vital to your work,” he admitted.
Rohee said his ministry has made note of the efforts being made, by most inspectors and sergeants, to ensure that a high degree
of professionalism accompanies their work.
However, the ministry has observed that far too many complaints of unacceptable and inappropriate conduct continue to be lodged
by members of the public and, during the ensuing year, corrective action must be taken to stamp out these tendencies, he urged.
Rohee said no one would deny that the sergeants and inspectors have a crucial part to play in the day to day management of the
GPF, at the level of the police stations and, in some instances, sub-divisions.
He said the extent to which they carry out their functions in a professional manner could have an effect on the way the force is
perceived by the public.
Rohee encouraged them to use the conference to find solutions to issues and problems that they may encounter in the management of
their various units and stations and hoped that, at the end of it, they would be able to charter a course that aids the GPF in
achieving its goal of making communities safer in 2011.
Police Commissioner Henry Greene agreed that there is a need for understanding what happens in the hierarchy of the force and
aspire to get to the top as the event provides recouping of efficiency and professionalism in managing police stations and outposts.
He said the inspectors and sergeants must recognise how important they are to the force in managing stations and junior ranks and
warned them: “Do not allow the junior ranks to treat you as constables but assume your duties and deal with matters efficiently as
well as encourage ranks, and take relevant actions in matters of interest.

INSTILLING DISCIPLINE
“Do not lose your role as sergeants and inspectors and be competent and do your duty while instilling discipline. Manage your
posts well and do your work.”
He said the sergeants and inspectors should be good information gatherers and manage ranks as well as delegate duties which focus
on service and protection of members of the public.
“Be responsible for decision making and interacting with members of the public, as you do in instruction classes. We expect you
to provide solid performance and use knowledge to the best of your ability and act as mediators. Develop understanding of work and
duties which include professionalism and make yourselves good policemen and women in service to the members of the public,” was his
admonition to them.
He reminded the subordinate officers (SOs) that it takes five years to make a good policeman perform well at work and do the job
as it relates to exposure.
His further advice was: “Develop an understanding of the environment and role in your work and set an example to ranks below and
advance to higher education in information technology. Understand where you are going and where you want to be in the GPF and take
steps to achieve the goal with optimum performance and use this conference to the best of your ability in pressing forward for the
common cause of the GPF in idea sharing.”
The theme of the conference was ‘Towards greater efficiency in managing police stations/outposts’ and the deliberations were
followed by a cocktail reception.