MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee’s announcement on the  major overhaul of the Guyana Police Force, is indeed very much welcomed, and definitely long overdue – the latter opinion, especially given the very negative view of  the nation towards its Law Enforcement Agency and its mode of operation.

On examination, these changes represent the most comprehensive yet, on the professional conduct, operational mode,  and future direction of the Force. There is also provision for public oversight of these initiatives,  a definite citizenry preference.
Particularly noted, is the accent on  professional training and academic furtherance of force members. This is very thoughtful and  visionary, since the two areas are inherent of each other, apart from the fact, that the time has come to match the well organized  planning  and execution of crime, with modern and scientific thinking  approach to countering the latter.
It is to be noted that  recommendations from the Disciplinary Forces Commission  deliberations, are being implemented, which will compliment those just announced by the Minister.
Also included in this repair, is the Guyana Prison Service and the  Guyana Fire Service – the latter to some extent.
It is time that the perception of imprisonment, shift from the colonial  tradition  of  being  punitive, to that of correction and rehabilitation, which must be to the benefit of the errant citizen with the view of preparing for his/her eventual  return to society.
All these proposed changes, have as its mission the  preparation  of  a better Police Force,  equipped with the intellectual capacity to combat today’s very smart criminal.
But will these very worthy  plans be supported by the Parliamentary  Opposition, which   entire modus operandi  so far has been  anti-national? Not very likely, if one it is to be guided by  comments from both individual parties via their mouthpiece, ‘Demerara Waves’. In fact, in a released statement,  both parties do support the plan, with the AFC’s leader reported as “going as far as to laud components of the plan”, and that he had advocated “civilian oversight” a long time ago.
Both parties’s problem, they emphasised, is with   Minister Rohee’s leadership of the programmes. Now, for the sake of rationality, how can one accept  the interventions  as conceived under the Minister, but yet in the same  vein, deem his leadership as incompetent, with the frantic  reason that  there is no hope for their implementation under his guidance. Is not this another of the great contradictions from these two groups, particularly the APNU, who ought to know better?
These are the kinds of changes within the local policing body that have long been anticipated, and  are certain to be supported wholeheartedly by a public and citizenry, that have been advocating change within the GPF.
How can Granger, a member of the Disciplined Services Commission, who has  been scathing of Minister Rohee for not implementing changes within  the Force’s structure, not support the latter, citing  reasons of leadership? This is baffling, as it is asinine.
Failure on the part of the political opposition to support these changes, means a delay in changes that will  produce  better policemen with refined skills, hence greater efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of the Police Force in its  overall  operational strategy against crime.
The Opposition must now publicly declare, whether they are on the side of progress, as it pertains to a better and more  competent law enforcement agency, seeking to protect the nation against the ever present criminal threat.