Rohee lauds CPGs as they celebrate 36th anniversary
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, yesterday, announced that a week of activities will observe the 36th anniversary of Community Policing Groups (CPGs) in Guyana. He told a press conference that CPGs continue to support law and order in the country by supporting the efforts of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Rohee said, together, the executive of the national community policing group (NCPG) and divisional executives of the CPGs coordinated efforts to formulate the programme as, annually, the auspicious activity is celebrated because of the recognition of the contributions the latter have made to enhancing law and order in support of the GPF.
“As far as we are aware, among the member States of the Caribbean Community, Guyana is exceptional in respect of CPGs, in the sense that it has one of the largest memberships, numbers of groups and one of the few countries where Government lends budgetary support to the activities and provides assets to ensure CPGs carry out their activities,” he observed.
The Minister said, to mark this event, a list of events to host this year’s activities were organised and ‘D’ Division (West Bank and West Coast Demerara and East Bank Essequibo) CPG will be hosting events which will not clash with national activities of each division, which has also organised a week.
He said the observances started on February 29 and will continue through March 31, to include a feeding programme, inter-faith prayers, a television programme (Let’s Gaff), march past and address by minister, a symposium, women’s conference, unveiling of a monument at La Grange Police Station, a youth conference, a candlelight vigil, CPGs Fun Day and floodlight cricket.
Rohee said he recognises and appreciates the participation of women in CPGs where their reliability counts and, as such, commended them for their good work.
He remarked that the team who put together the programme did a good job and lauded the National and Divisional executives for also arranging their own programmes to mark the 36th anniversary.
Rohee disclosed that there are 259 CPGs countrywide, with a total membership of 4,005, the largest being ‘B’ Division with 1,041, followed by ‘A’ Division with 732, ‘C’ Division with 652 and ‘G’ Division with 448.
He noted that the CPGs also carry out patrols of different types, such as vehicular, foot, bicycle, motorcycle, boat and with all terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Rohee said, from January to December 2011, CPGs recorded 4,079 vehicular patrols, 5,416 foot patrols, 3,191 bicycle patrols, 3,390 motorbike patrols, 954 boat patrols and 146 ATV patrols, all used to maintain law and order in their respective communities.