A clear message has been sent throughout the length and breadth of Guyana about the commitment to fighting crime and restoring order in society after the first ever “crime walk” early yesterday morning. Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee led the walk which began at the Ministry of Home Affairs, proceeded east on Brickdam, north on Camp Street to the seawall bandstand.
The event commenced at 7:00hrs and attracted participation from a wide cross-section of society, including representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) who all lauded the inaugural event.
Held under theme Towards a Safer Guyana, the event is part of the Ministry’s Citizens Security Programme which Minister Rohee explained is an all inclusive programme.
“Citizens security requires all being involved… it is good to see so many people participating in this march… the numbers are important but the numbers are quite equal to the message… that there are people who are committed to fighting crime,” Minister Rohee said.
The Citizens Security Programme is a five-year undertaking to improve citizen security and public order in Guyana. It commenced in August 2007 through a US$22M fund provided in part by a loan from the IDB.
The programme has several key objectives which are to identify, prevent and counteract risk factors; increase and promote protective factors in communities, families and individuals; strengthen the capabilities of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force (GPF); implement crime prevention and crime fighting programmes at the national and local levels; and strengthen social cohesion within communities and their violence prevention capacity.
Minister Rohee explained that the government is committed to the crime fight, evidenced by the increasing budgetary allocations given to the security sector each year; and he assured that the commitment will continue in the future.
“The government will continue to provide the necessary resources… not only for citizens but even for those who are investing their finances in order to ensure our economy grows,” Minister Rohee said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by PSC Chairman Ramseh Dookhoo who called for intense collaboration between the private sector and the Police Force, disclosing that a proposal is in the making outlining the private sector’s plan in this regard. (GINA)