…says Police PRO
THE January 21, 2011 call, by Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, for the expansion and revitalisation of Station Management Committees (SMCs) has seen the establishment of 27 in all Police Divisions and members of the public are involved in the effort to foster closer relations in the communities. And, at the recent 2012 Police Officers’ Annual Conference, participants were in appreciation of the meaningful support given to SMCs in the continued fight against crime and building of bridges with the public, Guyana Police Force (GPF) Public Relations Officer, Ivelaw Whittaker said.
The Assistant Commissioner said the Force has embraced the concept of SMCs, to the extent that there is a standing order to the effect, which clearly sets out its terms of reference and administrative procedures, one of which is that, while the Chairperson of the Committee is selected from the civilian component, the Secretary must be the Subordinate Officer-in-Charge of the station.
Whittaker said the idea of SMCs has now developed, with the main objectives being to ensure an effective monitoring system for police stations, also by civilians and enable the Force to offer a better quality of service through the support of members of the community.
He said the Force sees the system as being beneficial through improved Police/Community relations, greater understanding of Force problems and police perspective, information gathering, assistance with the development of infrastructure and other areas of necessity at stations, as well as creating a greater impact on the identification and assessment of issues and development within the community.
Whittaker observed that, SMCs, over the years, have been assisting stations in areas such as infrastructure development, provision of additional land transportation including by motorcycles and bicycles and community development with projects such as the refurbishing of bus sheds.
He acknowledged that they have contributed significantly to the improvement of Police/Community relations since being inaugurated in 1996 by then Commissioner Laurie Lewis, at the time comprising police personnel and influential persons in the communities, with the initial thrust of helping with maintenance of infrastructure, equipment and vehicles.
Whittaker recalled that, during November 2010, the Ministry of Home Affairs convened a one-day meeting with members of SMCs and it was attended by the minister, Mr. Clement Rohee; the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Angela Johnson; Commissioner Henry Greene; Divisional Commanders, Subordinate Officers-in-charge of stations and civilian members of SMCs.
On that occasion, the role and functions of the SMCs were critically examined, resulting in some twenty recommendations being put forward for consideration, Whittaker said.