Rohee, Greene emphasise importance of Police public relations
HOME Affairs Minister Clement Rohee yesterday declared open the 21st Junior Officers Training Course at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The 27 participants are drawn from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the City Constabulary but both the minister and Commissioner Henry Greene emphasised the importance of police public relations.
The programme is slated to last for 12 weeks during which those participating will be provided with the necessary knowledge, skills, values and attitude needed to understand their roles as junior managers in the Disciplined Services.
In his address, to the gathering Mr. Rohee said the course, themed ‘Training for Greater Efficiency and Effectiveness’, forms part of the strategic GPF programme which is fully supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Governments and law enforcement agencies in today’s world are facing many challenges, citizens of countries have been demanding better services from their police forces and, in order for the demands by citizens for better policing to be met by the police, there must be, in existence, properly trained policing organisations to carry out this mandate,” he pointed out.
Rohee said it is, therefore, evident that police forces must design programmes and strategies to ensure that adequately trained ranks are always available to manage the organisations at all levels.
He said that the course, which has representatives of other services participating, should not be seen as just a routine activity but must be viewed as a critical input that could, significantly, contribute to the short and long term development of the GPF and the other agencies represented.

OPPORTUNITIES

“As is the case with many law enforcement agencies, the Guyana Police Force is facing its own challenges. These difficulties must not been seen as impediments to the development of the Force but should be used as opportunities to further develop the organisation,” Rohee stated.
The minister urged the course participants to maintain their professional focus and surmount any difficulties confronting the force at this time.
“This is a period in the history of the force when you have to strive as members of the organisation to look at the broader picture and hold on steadfastly to the motto of the force ‘Service and Protection’,” he emphasised.
According to him: “At the moment, you the members of the Force are faced with a number of issues that need to be addressed. For example, the rapid expansion of economic activity in the interior, the dramatic increase in the price of gold, from US$250 per ounce, a few years ago to over US$1,800 per ounce a few days ago, has resulted in a mad rush by persons into the interior.”
Rohee said, while most of these persons have good intentions behind their motive, a few of them seem to be bent on depriving others of their hard earned assets, resulting in the increase of crime in the interior, thus requiring the diversion of more attention by the police to the mining districts in the interior.
He said that, as a result of the country’s current economic development, more vehicles have been imported to service the mining and logging areas in the interior, satisfy the demands of those persons who provide transportation services and citizens and companies with vehicles to engage in their lawful pursuits.
“This situation has resulted in a dramatic increase in vehicular traffic in this country.
The police would have to, in collaboration with citizens, seek ways to implement more effective strategies to curb the resulting number of accidents on our roads,” Rohee observed.
He said, in addition to the need for the police to address crime in the interior, commanders and other officers have to ensure that they manage and control crime and other infringements of the law that have been taking place in other parts of the country, including the city.

ELECTIONS

“On top of all these issues, you are required to adequately prepare for the upcoming General Elections to be held later this year. Officers of the Force would have to, as a matter of necessity, have an overarching view of the general crime and security situation in this country at all times if the force is to, successfully, address those issues in an effective manner,” Rohee agreed.
He said the Junior Officers Course could provide tremendous benefits to the GPF and the other agencies that are involved.
Rohee said that two important issues which are necessary to sustain organisations of the types that are represented on this course are professionalism and succession planning.
The minister told the ranks that public confidence in the police force is critical for it to be efficient and effective. However, unless ranks can make the decision to adopt to a professional posture on a continuous basis, the degree to which the public will provide cooperation will be affected in a negative way.
“You have to always remember that the support of the public is critical to the work of the police but this is not limited to the police, the issue of professionalism has to form the basis of the work of all members of the Disciplined Services. Members of the force, especially, are required to be even-handed when addressing all issues, if public confidence in the force is to be improved,” the minister insisted.
In addition, he told the ranks that the quality of training imparted during the training along with their ability to assimilate for practical application, is critical for their development.
“I urge you, therefore, to pay rapt attention to the theoretical and practical lessons that are being provided to you on this course, because much would be expected of you, not only by your superiors, but your subordinates and the public in general,” Rohee added.
He said that as junior officers and future leaders of the GPF, it is not too early for them to engage in serious discussions on the nature of policing in this country.
“As Junior Officers, you should be able to have a good grasp of all issues that affect us locally and internationally. You should use this course as a stepping stone for your further development as members of society and the Guyana Police Force,” Minister Rohee said.
Another speaker at the forum, Police Commissioner Henry Greene told the officers being trained that the objective is to provide the necessary training that would allow them to set a better example in society.
He said the training should allow for the development of managerial and operational capabilities in order to enable them to perform at a consistently high standard.
Greene said that is very necessary when executing everyday tasks and, as such, this officer training will give them the opportunity to acquire the skill.
“Public relations are about serving the public and sub-divisional officers are expected to set an example for the junior ranks. They must be punctual so that junior ranks could do the same,” the Commissioner said.
KEY
He said the programme focuses on operations management and knowledge is key.
The Commissioner said officers must be educated on the standing orders and laws as this will help them to function effectively.
“As junior officers, you need to appreciate what you are being taught. You have to provide leadership in the right manner and communication is also necessary,“ Green noted.
He said the training is designed to teach officers the theory and practical methods of undertaking the roles assigned to them and he urged them to use the lessons learnt to better themselves in the policing field.
Greene explained that the modernisation of the force would not be accomplished without good public relations.
The Guyana Police Force is an entity, like many other organisations, that is comprised of individuals who come from various backgrounds. This would require the management of the force to build and mould these individuals into one unit with unity of purpose.