-urges national executive to be more proactive
The Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday hosted its Annual General Meeting engaging Community Policing Groups(CPGs) from the various police divisions in Guyana to review their performances last year.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee,  emphasised the need for proper record-keeping of assets that belong to (CPGs.
He explained that every year, government allocates a specific sum of money to community policing which is managed by the Home Affairs Ministry. These funds are spent on vehicles, boats, outboard engines and other vital equipment to enable groups to effectively execute their mandate.
“It is extremely important to have an asset inventory in each division, so that you can present monthly status reports of the equipment in your division,” the minister said.
He also cautioned against the misuse of assets that belong to (CPGs), and said that the ministry is prepared to take the necessary action in cases where such misuse is found.
The national executive of the community policing system, which is the body responsible for the strategic planning and organising of activities within groups across the country, was urged to play a more proactive role in finding solutions to problems that may arise from time to time.
The ministry has collaborated with this important body to formulate its 2011 training programme for members of (CPGs). The national executive will be tasked with monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the programme.
“The national executive has to play an oversight role to ensure that programmes are executed in a timely manner,” Minister Rohee noted.
With regard to fund-raising activities, the minister said that this activity presents a good opportunity for members of groups to forge closer ties with the community in which they operate. He explained that such activities should not only target a certain sum of money, but rather it should also seek to increase membership.
He stressed that strong leadership is very important, as there has been a lot of deficiencies in the past in planning and management at both the national and administrative levels in the community policing system. He also lamented the lack of initiatives to host activities to engage youths and grassroot residents at the group level.
“It is important for the national executive and other CPG members to go out into the field and make their presence felt… the more proactive you are, the more benefits you will be able to bring to the police as well as to your community,” Minister Rohee asserted.
CPG members were reminded that this is an election year and members who are also rural constables (RCs) will be called upon, from time to time, by the police commissioner to perform functions as provided for under the Police Act.
The meeting also saw the election of office bearers for the national executive body.
Community policing is an important component of the government’s total crime-fighting strategy and much effort is being made to ensure its sustainability.
Last year, between the months of September and October, seven divisional retreats, involving members of CPGs, were held in the various police divisions, engaging 1,631 members.
Arising from these retreats was a multiplicity of recommendations which have since been rationalised and are under consideration for implementation. Additionally, special conferences were held for women and youths to sensitise them to their role in the creation of safer communities.
Currently, there are 272 CPGs across the country, with a membership totalling 4,695.
The ministry is particularly pleased with the rapidly growing female membership of CPGs, an indication of the level of importance women attach to reducing all forms of societal ills. (GINA)