2011 at a glance
GUYANA IS not isolated when it comes to problems of a social nature which inevitably act as the breeding ground for crime, violence and deviant behaviour. It made every sense then that tackling the root causes is the place to start.
Crime is an act that violates written criminal laws. At the same time, deviance, in a sociological context, describes actions or behaviours that violate cultural norms, including formally enacted rules. Communities can be regarded as the nucleus of society and studies have shown that the state of communities is generally reflective of that of the society.
When the Citizen Security Programme for Guyana was conceptualised, adapted, and launched a few years ago, it promised to demonstrate that not only the spiralling crime situation at that time can be brought under control, it was also an opportunity to change lives. It can be considered as one that is applying both the traditional and non-traditional ways of tackling crime.
Backed by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Guyana, it is a visionary programme executed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Apart from strengthening the institutional capabilities of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force, it was a people-centred approach. And this is where the Community Action Component was most effective.
The Guyana experience has shown far more success in the other countries in the Caribbean and Latin American where the Programme was applied. 2011 has been a defining year.
A society’s criminal justice system punishes crime and this becomes necessary when criminal acts are so disruptive as to interfere with its normal functioning. Normal functioning is guided by both formal rules and cultural norms and they are closely related when it comes to issues of prosperity and security.
The 10 communities in Regions 4 and 6 targeted under the programme can now be regarded as models to be replicated in others. In 2011, more than 600 young people were trained in the Life Skills and Vocational Training Programme. This is in addition to the several hundreds the year  before.   
The sociology of criminal activities places young people with little or no education, skills or opportunities for personal development at the centre of the problem. 
The almost 1,000 young people who benefited from the training programme were mainly school drop-outs or those who never had the opportunity to attend school. Their situation may have been an unfortunate one, or they may have come from an under-privileged background, it was a second chance in life for them. Many of them have now joined the workforce, either being employed by others or establishing  their own businesses, contributing to Guyana’s development in the process as well as lifting their own standard of living.
In 2011, another innovative approach was initiated. It was felt that the practical training has to be complemented by the development of a well- rounded personality in the form of behaviour change. In each of the 10 communities, sessions were conducted in Youth Violence prevention, Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence Prevention.
Providing them with such opportunities has a multiplying effect within the communities. Indications are that the crime rate has dropped and the objective of creating safer neighbourhoods is quickly realised.
Because of the success of the Programme and the overwhelming response and demand, the sponsors, the IDB, Government of Guyana, and the Ministry of Home Affairs have decided to extend it for another six months in 2012. The aspect that will be more focused on is the Community Action Component. Whatever happened in 2011 is good enough for it to be sustained in the coming years and extended to other communities.