Citizen security programme
IN ANY country, citizens are entitled to feel secure and protected in their daily lives. Crime, violence and conflict sow fear and anxiety about personal security, and hinder economic development. Over the years, the Government of Guyana has made several interventions to address this situation, but one of the most significant ones was the Citizen Security Programme (CSP).
The programme has its origin in the 2004 period when the crime rate skyrocketed. This demanded special attention. The Government of Guyana sought the assistance of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop and execute a programme to tackle the situation, both for the medium and long-term.
The Bank was very supportive of the idea, and after detailed studies, agreed to financially support the programme. The CSP was developed, and the contract to this effect was signed in December 2007, whereby the IDB committed to providing US$19.8 million, while the government will provide US$2.2 million in counterpart funding.
The programme was launched in 2008, and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who has responsibility for the CSP, expressed deep satisfaction and optimism on the impact such a programme will have on crime prevention and detection. He noted that the programme was conceived at a time when there was a growing demand and pressures on the government to find additional resources for the security sector. The coordinator of the CSP is Khemraj Rai, a project management expert who has successfully managed a number of projects in the country.
The broad objective of the programme is to enhance the citizen’s security and coexistence by contributing to reduction in levels of crime, violence and insecurity in Guyana. Specifically, it seeks to identify, prevent and counteract risk factors, and promote protective factors in communities, families and individuals.
It is further aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force to implement modern crime preventive and crime fighting programmes at national and local levels.
Through its Community Action Component (CAC), there has been a comprehensive approach to strengthen social cohesion within communities and their preventive capacity encompassing a unique and inclusive approach.
It has been three years since its implementation, and already the project has realized significant steps in the modernization of areas within the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force. These include the introduction and enhancement of information technology use, a comprehensive programme of training of police officers, modernization of a number of police stations across the country and the establishment of a forensic laboratory.
The Community Action Component can be described as very innovative and successful interventions. In the ten counties under the CAC, hundreds of youths, mainly school drop-outs have acquired life skills that have enabled them to become marketable. This is coupled with a number of social programmes and activities to enhance community relations.