The proposed rehabilitation and remodelling of designated police stations in the country would reflect a new thrust by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force to make the stations more “victim friendly”. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, disclosed this yesterday as he announced that Cabinet has approved a $134.5M contract for the rehabilitation and remodeling of police stations built decades ago in Regions 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) , and 5 (Mahaica/Berbice).
According to Dr. Luncheon, the remodelling is necessary in light of a number of concerns that have surfaced over the “less than adequate configuration of police stations” in addition to the “custodial facilities” at some of the facilities.
And so some stations, such as those at Brickdam and East La Penitence, were both recently renovated, he added.
He explained, “In light of new legislation, social concerns about the weaknesses of the Police Force in dealing with issues of sexual violence, domestic violence and counselling, there needs to be a victim friendly environment.”
Luncheon noted too that because of the importance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in crime prevention and fighting, the stations would need to be remodelled to join the network of police stations being created under the auspices of the Ministry of Home Affairs.