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It is also an occasion on which I could expound on any issue that you, the core of the management structure of the Force, may wish to clarify with my ministry.
Concomitantly, I think that at this session, we should engage in fruitful discussions about issues surrounding policing in this country and come up with ideas aimed at ensuring that the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs work together to improve citizen security in Guyana and to work extremely hard to restore the public’s confidence in the organisation.
With the latter in mind, it may be good to consider the implications inherent in the name change from that of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the Guyana Police Service (GPS) since the former appears to many to convey a certain type of attitude in the actions of certain sections of the organisation.
There is no doubt that 2012 was a troubling year for the Guyana Police Force.
You were faced with some difficult issues that impacted the national security of this country. Some of the challenges you encountered were:
i) the disturbances that occurred at Linden during the first half of 2012;
ii) the disturbances that occurred at Agricola following the events at Linden;
iii) the upsurge in the number of gun related robberies;
iv) the significant and worrying number of execution type killings;
v) the incidents of robbery and murder that have occurred in mining districts;
In my view and that of the government, you were able to successfully manage several of those challenges and at the end of the year, from the statistics, the force was able to achieve some successes in its effort to maintain Law and Order throughout Guyana.
In spite of this, there is still a need for increased efforts to be made at all levels by you, to address the many critical issues that are both operational and administrative in nature and keeping with the motto of the organisation, i.e., ‘Service and Protection’; as well as its objectives and the Oath of Office repeated at the embryonic stage of enlistment.
Today, I wish to speak briefly on some issues that are of concern to the government and more particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is of the view that the amount of robberies and crimes generally that are being committed in the country, especially with the use of firearms is still relatively high.
While it is acknowledged that the force is continuing to seize illegal firearms from criminals and other persons, the increase in the level of gun related crimes need to be addressed more effectively.
The force is tasked with the provision of better citizen security, therefore more dedicated efforts must be made to reduce the incidents of robberies and other crimes in the country.
More use must be made of the images derived from the cameras that have been installed around the city as a tool in identifying suspects who have committed robberies within the view of the cameras.
At this juncture, I am compelled to disclose that the Ministry of Home Affairs recognises the support that has been provided to the various police stations and divisions by the Station Management Committees, the Community Policing Groups that are active, and the National Commission on Law and Order.
The Neighbourhood Police Ranks, who form an integral part of the force, have played their part in supporting the efforts of the force at controlling crime especially at the community level.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has conducted a review of the Crime Stoppers Programme that was operationalised in 2012 and which allows members of the public to report crimes to the police via the telephone or cell phone. We are heartened by the responses so far from citizens. I call on the police to support this initiative.
In my December 31, 2012 presentation, I made reference to the need to recruit more Neighbourhood Police. Thus far, we have submitted twenty two (22) names to Force Headquarters. I haven’t received a response as yet.
My ministry is continuing its efforts to provide an IT link-up for the entire force through the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS). There is the need for more education to be provided to police ranks about the benefits of this system.
Another innovation that is about to be launched by my ministry is the “I Paid Bribe Project” which is aimed at helping the force in curbing corruption within the country and in the force itself.
The work that the force has been doing to restrict the number of fatal accidents on our roads is not unreasonable.
However, there is a need for us to recognise that a significant amount of demographic changes have taken place in this country with the result that there has been shifts in the usage of some of our major roadways.
For example, the volume of traffic has increased tremendously on the East Coast of Demerara, on the East Bank of Demerara and on the West Bank of Demerara.
In addition, with the opening of the Berbice River Bridge, additional difficulties have been faced by the force in managing traffic in that region.
The increase in wealth in the country has also resulted in more vehicles being acquired by persons, thus the number of vehicles traversing our roads have increased tremendously.
While commendable work is being done by our road engineers, one is not sure if the improvements of our road ways have been practically keeping abreast with the increase in the volume of traffic countrywide.
With the recognition of this dilemma, the Guyana Police Force would have to engage in strategic thinking to find ways to grapple with this emerging situation.
At this conference, you have to assess what has been achieved by the Traffic Department in 2012. Was the Traffic Department able to make the public better users of our roads through education and enforcement? What was the level of support provided by the Police Traffic Department to the National Road Safety Council in 2012?
For the year 2012, one hundred and two (102) traffic accidents occurred resulting in 110 persons being killed while in 2011, one hundred and six (106) fatal accidents occurred resulting in 115 deaths.
For the period 01-01-2012 to 13-03-2012, twenty (20) fatal accidents at which 21 persons died, including 2 children were recorded by the Guyana Police Force while for a similar period 01-01-2013 to 13-03-2013, twenty (20) fatal accidents at which 22 persons including 3 children died was recorded by the Guyana Police Force.
This is an indication that much more work has to be done to address this problem by the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force.
The issue of speeding, inattentive driving and driving under the influence of alcohol has been blamed as the principal reasons for the number of traffic accidents that have been occurring in this country.
The time has now come for a review to be done of the present written and practical examinations that are being conducted by the force to allow persons to obtain driver’s licences.
To assist the Police Traffic Department, we have submitted the names of seventy five (75) applicants to be Traffic Wardens. I am still awaiting a response from Force Headquarters on the outcome of the screening in process.
Over the past two years, and, more so, especially during last year and so far for this year, our national Law Enforcement Agencies have been making great strides at combating the drug trade in this country.
This is evident by the amount of seizures of drugs that have been made recently.
The Guyana Police Force has to continue to be an active participant in this process.
This would require you not only to build capacity to arrest drug traffickers and dealers but to investigate and charge persons who commit money laundering offences.
Additionally, the Guyana Police Force is expected to be integrally involved in the activities of the Task Force on Narcotic Drugs and Illicit Weapons and the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband.
Even though some progress has been made, the Ministry of Home Affairs is still not entirely satisfied that all Divisional Commanders and even those ranks at the station level are paying enough attention to addressing reports of Domestic Violence that have been made at the respective Police Stations in their Divisions.
The Ministry of Home Affairs believes that there is a deficiency in the training programmes of the Force, in that, it does not appear as though Domestic Violence is being sufficiently taught in all of the Training Modules of the Force.
Again, in my December 31, 2012 presentation, I stated that “a new preventative and pro-active approach is required on the issue of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse. Such innovative measures must be introduced where others have failed”.
The police force needs to be involved in this approach.
This issue must form part of the discussions at this conference.
I call on Commissioner of Police (ag) and his Management Team to review attitudes of ranks in this matter by ensuring that a greater degree of attention is paid by them in treating with reports of Domestic Violence.
Institutional Modernization of the Guyana Police Force
I have already outlined the Institutional Modernization process that is currently underway in the Guyana Police Force at a presentation which was attended by many of you on December 31, 2012.
Since then, the Consultants, Capita Symonds, have commenced work on their aspect of the reform of the Guyana Police Force. At the moment, a report with recommendations, that was submitted by the consultants, is under study by the Government of Guyana, after reviews were conducted by Senior Officers of the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The role of the consultancy, Capita Symonds, in its engagement with the Government of Guyana in the modernization process of the force could be seen as one that is complementary but not subordinate to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Guyana Police Force.
Among the main inputs of that group in the process will be:
i) Introduction of a Recruitment and Retention Policy – This would result in enhanced screening of recruits.
ii) Developing the Officer Cadet Scheme – This would enhance the long term capacity of the Force.
iii) Introduction of a Code of conduct and Developing OPR Teams – This initiative will assist the Force in reducing corruption.
iv) Establish a Modern Public Relations Department – This project will assist the force in selling itself by keeping the public informed about its activities and assist in building better relations between the police and the media.
In an effort to proceed with the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Force which has had the blessings of the Commissioner of Police and his Senior Management, ten (10) civilians, dedicated to the implementation of that plan will be employed shortly.
The Strategic Plan for the Guyana Police Force which is expected to be implemented in five years will focus on five broad areas:
i) Operational Priorities – The Key areas of Police work that are vital to peace and stability of this country will be focused on.
ii) People – The relevant training in the development of skills and competence of staff will be addressed in the implementation of the plan.
iii) Partnerships – Great emphasis will be placed on developing partnerships with other stakeholders.
iv) Performance – Accountability and the delivery of professional services will be addressed in this component of the plan. The issue of performance evaluation and monitoring will be part of the activities of the modernized police force.
v) Infrastructure – All aspects of infrastructure development of the force including IT Development, enhancement of physical infrastructure, the acquisition of equipment, scientific and mobile will be achieved under this phase of the project.
In addition to the above, we have requested the group to look at the Administration of the Force as well. This is critical to the reform process. Moreover, it is to be noted that the Report on the Linden Commission of Inquiry (LCOI) has called for a Management Audit of the Guyana Police Force. The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently studying this among other recommendations and will share with the Guyana Police its views on the way forward shortly.
The work of the Capita Symonds Group will continue side by side with the implantation of the Strategic Plan for the Force.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been assured by the Commissioner of Police and his Senior Officers that the programmes that are being implemented as part of the modernization of the force have been communicated to other officers and junior ranks of the force.
This is an important issue that must be given serious consideration if the programme is to be successful.
I therefore expect that at this conference, you would engage in meaningful discussions on this matter.
Another critical aspect of the reform process of the Force is the new reality where you will have civilians being employed in your midst.
Historically, except for instances when civilian specialists in the Finance Department and a few other areas along with barrack labourers were employed by the force, all employees of the Guyana Police Force have been generally sworn ranks.
The employment of the ten (10) civilians as counterparts at the senior levels of the force will require attitudinal changes on the part of the force if the Strategic Plans is to be smoothly and effectively implemented.
This matter is so critical that there is no window of opportunity for any experiment to be undertaken at this time by anyone.
It would therefore be necessary for the management of the Guyana Police Force to take deliberate steps to ensure that the ten (10) persons are given the space to function within the terms of reference of their employment and for the Guyana Police Force to be receptive to the circumstances under which these civilians are to be engaged.
It is not unusual for civilians to be employed by modern day Police Forces.
Internationally, it has been accepted that it is better in some instances to employ civilian specialists to satisfy specific requirements of the police forces.
The Guyana Police Force has embarked on an exciting course at this phase of its history.
I urge you to embrace the changes that will and must come in the force.
We are all living in a dynamic world and we must respond to the changes that are taking place around us.
The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has committed to expending significant sums of money on training in the force both local and overseas.
Aspects of the training will be addressed in the project that is being undertaken by the Capita Symonds Group.
The Ministry of Home Affairs would wish to see a holistic approach being adopted by the Guyana Police Force to the training of its ranks starting with the last joined constable.
For example, when a recruit completes his initial training, there must be in place an arrangement where he or she is required to undergo specific additional local training in keeping with his or her appointment and rank.
In relation to ranks stationed at specialist branches, programmes must be so designed that he or she is exposed to specific training consistent with his or her assignment.
In the same vein, there must be in place prearranged Training Courses for all Sergeants, Corporal, Inspectors and all officers. The senior and junior officers courses must be continued and enhanced.
This would require the Guyana Police to produce a training plan not very much dissimilar to a Strategic Plan to ensure that there are deliberate training courses for all ranks as they move up the ladder of management in the organization.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently engaging the Guyana Police Force on this matter because the process would involve training at the University of Guyana and training institutions overseas.
The Ministry of Home Affairs remains convinced that upgraded and well planned training programmes which would involve Crowd Control, Anti Crime, Anti Narcotic, Forensics, CID and Management training are vital for the Force if it is to be able to ensure citizen security.
We at the ministry will dedicate much of our efforts in this area, though not to the detriment to the other areas of capacity building in the force.
At the Police Officers’ conference in 2012, I recommended that a review be conducted of the Divisional Structures in the Force.
I am therefore pleased to know that some action has been taken, in that, “E and F” Division has been split and the previous arrangements in the early 90s have been reverted to.
While it may be too early for an assessment of that recent Divisional change to be conducted, I think that more efficiency in the management of the two Divisions will result.
The physical condition of some Police lockups has still not met with the total satisfaction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Many of the facilities are not properly supervised by the Station Sergeants.
I understand that Barrack Labourers are still employed by the Force. If that is so, I wonder, what part they play in keeping the Stations and environs clean?
The Guyana Police Force has to consider the introduction of other initiatives to improve the environment in which prisoners are kept and the general working conditions of ranks.
The Time has come for consideration to be given to the establishment of Occupational Safety and Health Committees in the Force as an option.
This would be a good idea and it would provide a platform for responsibilities to be assigned to persons to ensure that the overall environment is kept clean and tidy.
The ministry does not have to tell the Police Officers what to do to keep their Stations and compounds clean because the Force’s Standing Orders are there to guide you.
Regular inspections by appropriate officers could obviate a part of this problem. It is therefore of urgent necessity that inspections be re-introduced in keeping with the relevant standing Orders and Circulars.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is not convinced that the best possible persons are recruited into the Guyana Police Force. The recruitment system in the Force must not and can never remain static.
Because of changes in our society and the negative influences that have been affecting the behaviour of persons, especially the young, who are prone to be more vulnerable, there is a need for:
1. stricter standards to be applied to the recruitment of persons into the Guyana Police Force.
2. objective and purposeful background checks to be done.
3. psychological examinations to be part of the assessment of persons, especially those who are likely to carry firearms.
Consideration should be given to the introduction of more polygraph tests of persons who are earmarked to be assigned to sensitive and high profile departments of the force e.g. the Narcotics Branch and Criminal Investigation Department, Immigration Department and Special Branch.
The training syllabuses of recruits must be revamped to include the exposure of ranks to more academic courses in addition to the general courses that are job specific. That should include basic Book Keeping, English, Information Technology and others.
The persons who conduct the interviews of recruits to the force must themselves be endowed with the appropriate skills which would allow them to identify persons who are potential risks to the integrity of the force if they are to be allowed to enter the organisation.
These steps are necessary, because if the reform and institutional modernization of the Force is to be successful, a higher quality of and more dedicated recruits are required to be drafted into the force.
Serious thoughts must be given to this area of management of the Guyana Police Force.
I have noted, with dismay, the long list of unsolved serious crimes particularly execution type murders that remain on the records of the Guyana Police Force.
We have reached a stage where some members of the public and the press have tended to insinuate that the Force lacks the ability or will to solve these high profile cases.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is far from happy with this state of affairs. The force would have to review its current investigative capacity and take corrective action.
One such step recommended is the intensification of the training of detectives of the Guyana Police Force, CID, but that would have long term benefits.
Because of the immediacy of this problem, more dedication must be shown by the investigators of the force in bringing perpetrators to justice.
The inability of the CID to solve this large number of serious crimes is affecting public confidence in the force. This negative trend must be reversed.
As you are well aware by now, with the enactment of Regulation No. of 2010 in accordance with Section 45 of the Firearms Act, there have been changes in the procedures to be applied in the granting of approvals for Firearm Licences.
These new regulations have allowed for the establishment of a Firearm Licensing Approval Board to which all applications for Firearm Licences must be sent by the Guyana Police Force.
This arrangement would require the Divisional Commanders to submit reports on applications for Firearm Licences with recommendations to the Commissioner of Police, who will in turn send them to the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration and recommendations to be made to the Minister of Home Affairs by the Firearm Licensing Board. The minister will eventually advise the Commissioner of Police of the decision of the Firearms License Approval Board on the applications.
All members of the force are advised to acquaint themselves in full of these new provisions under Section 45 of the Firearms Act.
In an effort to make the processing of applications for firearms easier, a user friendly electronic based Firearm applications and processing system has been developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the ICIS.
I have been advised that the views of the Guyana Police Force have been factored into the development and finalization of the module.
At this conference, an excellent window of opportunity has been provided for the IT Specialist in the Force to apprise you of this new system.
The Ministry of Home Affairs continues to be disappointed with the number of incidents of indiscipline and corruption that have been committed and alleged to have been committed by members of the Guyana Police Force.
Policemen and women are expected to uphold the law and inspire the confidence of the public by demonstrating that they are well disciplined and free from corruption.
However, there have been too many instances in which members of the Force have been involved in conduct that suggests that they have not been conducting themselves “above board”.
It is not unusual to hear members of the public alleging that they were forced to pay police ranks bribes to forego prosecution in traffic matters and even more serious occurrences.
Corruption and other forms of indiscipline have seriously tarnished the image of the force.
While the Ministry of Home Affairs would not deny that there is room for your entire package of benefits, including emoluments, to be enhanced, the excuse given by elements of our society that ranks involve themselves in bribery and corruption because of low salaries is difficult to be proven scientifically.
There must be in place in the force adequate systems of monitoring, supervision and control to obviate such practice. Training in professional ethics could assist in this regard.
The question to be answered is whether the Guyana Police Force has been doing enough at all levels to address corruption and indiscipline.
I have taken the opportunity to look at the statistical data from the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Guyana Police Force and the Police Complaints Authority in relation to the number of complaints both entities have had to investigate.
According to the Office of Professional Responsibility, the number of complaints received on 2011 was 244. In 2012, the Office of Professional Responsibility received 291 complaints against members of the Force and so far for this year 48 complaints were received by the Office of Professional Responsibility for investigations.
I am further advised that 26 members of the Force are currently before the courts in various criminal charges.
The information available from the Police Complaints Authority also paints a dire picture.
In 2011, the Police Complaints received 241 written and 339 oral complaints against the police. In 2012, the Authority received 264 written and 450 oral complaints against the police.
As the Minister of Home Affairs, I am inclined to believe that there is the need for a firmer grip to be taken by officers of the Guyana Police Force to drastically reduce the incidents of indiscipline and corruption by ranks.
At the same time, all of our officers have to lead by example by ensuring that they themselves are not tainted by corruption and other deviant behaviour.
Perhaps some of the ranks may have escaped adequate punishment because of the inability of their superiors to be more firm in exercising discipline over themselves and the junior ranks.
The time has come for there to be more acceptance by all ranks of the force of the use of information technology to fight crime. It is of necessity that there should be a full embrace by members of the force of the new technologies that are being introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force to prevent and solve more crimes.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is of the view that more sanitization of the junior staff is required to be done to ensure that there is a better understanding of the technological advances that are being promoted to enable the Guyana Police Force to address crime more effectively.
I need to remind you about the need for the force to comply with the Use of Force Policy and the International Standards governing the use of Force.
Members of the Guyana Police Force need to work harder to develop closer working relationships with the public whom you serve.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is committed to assist in this process by contributing to the development of a pathway that would facilitate easier engagements between the public and the police.
As Minister of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force is assured of my support in your efforts at improving the quality of service that is provided to our citizens.
I will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that your organisation is better resourced.
However, there must continue to be in place evaluation systems to verify that the resources allocated to the force have resulted in targets being met.
I hope that you have a successful conference.
Thank you!
