-Minister Rohee
MINISTER of Home Affairs Mr. Clement Rohee said that government has collaborated with the private sector on an unprecedented scale on issues relating to security, according to Home Affairs Minister Mr. Clement Rohee. To this end, the private sector is represented on boards and committees that deal with key issues where their views are taken into serious consideration in the formulation of policies, Rohee said during his contribution to the 2011 national budget debate.
“In the security sector, members of the private sector sit on the National Commission of Law and Order (NCLO) and the High Level Policy Committee of the Crime Observatory,” he told the House.
Additionally, the private sector was involved in a recent meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force to examine the security implications of new roads and trails in the hinterland region.
A functional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) to formalise collaboration between the ministry and the private sector body.
With a budgetary allocation of $15.9B this year, the sector will be focusing on collection and analysis of information and intelligence, improving investigative capability, strengthening community/police relations, and intensifying collaboration with regional and international law enforcement agencies.
Provisions will be made for the construction of the modern forensic laboratory and fire fighting training school, new fire stations at Mahaica and Diamond, completion of the training facility for the Guyana Police Force, remodelling of six police stations and outposts, prisons, barracks, and bases will be rehabilitated countrywide to ensure effective capability of the security forces.
In addition, over $140M will be spent to train security personnel in an effort to improve response capabilities, $662.2M for the purchase of vehicles (trucks, pickup, fire tenders, and buses) of which $80.5M relates to expansion of the hinterland fire protection drive with the purchase of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), water tenders and trailer pumps for Port
Kaituma, Mahdia, Mabaruma, Kwakwani, and Lethem.
“The security sector modernisation has already shown tangible benefits for the citizens of Guyana…the Guyana Police Force has demonstrated extraordinary resilience to the changing demands of the security environment,” the Minister said.