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Among the distinguished guests present at the launch, held at the Guyana Police Force Officers’ Training Centre at Eve Leary, Kingston, Georgetown, were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ms. Angela Johnson; Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell and other senior police officials, besides representatives of the faith-based community and other stakeholders.
Rev. Dr. Kwame Gilbert, Social Policy Advisor to the Government of Guyana, whose brainchild the project was, noted that, for minor offences, there is a certain degree of flexibility that can be exercised; hence the CFCN seeks to exploit this flexibility to ensure that, rather than being processed through a penal system by their first action, young people can have diversionary options extended to them.
In giving a background to establishment of the CFCN, Rev. Gilbert described the initiative as a formal coalition between the Guyana Police Force, the Clergy, and the faith-based community in Guyana, which has its genesis in what is known as the COPS and Clergy Network of Red Lands, California, USA, first established in 1998.
On a trip to the US in 2010, Rev. Gilbert visited police departments in Los Angeles and in Detroit, Michigan, and saw the network in operation. He was so impressed that he brought the concept back to Guyana and shared it with Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and others.
“It was first mooted in January 2012 by the local Community Action Component (CAC) meeting at the level of the Citizens Community Programme, and is intended to deal with youths who will come into conflict with the law for minor offences. In this regard, it is a significant crime prevention effort,” Rev. Gilbert said.
Having kicked off on Thursday, the network will, for the first six months, initially be run in ten carefully selected communities, after which it will be rolled out throughout Guyana. The ten communities he named are Sophia, Agricola, Mc Doom, Plaisance, Buxton/Friendship, Lusignan (all in Region Four); Angoy’s Avenue, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Port Mourant, Rose Hall, Kilcoy-Chesney and Fyrish (all in Region Six).
Stressing that the initial six months would be considered the ‘Pilot of the Project’, Rev. Gilbert said that period would be monitored and evaluated at its conclusion; and once the areas of challenge are determined, and the Hon. Home Affairs Minister is satisfied with the potential of the project and its chances of success, the project would be rolled out throughout the country. Thereafter, other religious organizations not yet involved can be taken on board.
He credited the CACs with having already made a significant mark in respect to creation of safe neighbourhoods, and added, “We believe that this network will build on the successes of the work done in the Citizens Action Committee.”
He saw the role of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as being crucial in this scheme of things, since that organization is tasked with maintenance of peace and good order in Guyana and brings the spirit and tools necessary to apprehend and prosecute criminals, besides being able to provide the kind of intelligence needed for crime fighting in Guyana.
The religious community, on the other hand, brings to the table its knowledge and experience functioning as the anchoring force within communities, and being virtually a part of people’s lives in many areas.
Rev. Gilbert said he was satisfied that the operational framework has, from the various religious organizations, a governing body of representatives who are all committed to the project, not least the Community Action Component of the Citizens Security Programme, whose members would have already done within these communities significant work for the year.
He also had kudos for the Police Public Relations Officer, Asst Commissioner Ivelaw Whittaker, whose tremendous work impacted significantly in bringing the process to where it currently is – preparatory stage of the Standard Operating Procedures.
“The issue is that we believe that the police (force), in the execution of (its) duties, can exercise flexibility (where minor offences are concerned). This network formalizes that kind of arrangement,” the Reverend affirmed.
He, however, stated emphatically that the Network covers only minor offences, because, in keeping with the law, the police cannot exercise leniency when offences are committed that do not fall within the purview of the CFCN. He rolled out a list of minor offences which would be covered by the CFCN, and those included: indecent language; common assault; wandering; disorderly behaviour, and larceny by finding.
Reverend Gilbert is optimistic about the outcome of the initiative, both for the police, the community, and for the national development thrust.
Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell noted that the launch of the CFCN has promoted another key and important partnership between the Guyana Police Force and the religious community. This, he said, can be classified as a dedicated and faithful move to partner with the religious community, which is responsible primarily for the social, moral and ethical operation of a society.
Brumell said the GPF is currently going through a modernization phase, and its strategic plan for 2013-2017 is critical to realizing success. He viewed COPS and the Faith-based Community Network (CFCN) as being eminently able to contribute to that success.
He recalled having had several engagements with his administrative team and the executive body of the CFCN. He said the Force’s structured framework in relation to engagements at any level within its divisions has an eye on the following outcomes: An overview of crime within communities and the divisions; GPF policies and procedures; and value-based initiatives which can be of interest to the respective communities after careful engagement and consideration.
Commissioner Brumell said the Guyana Police Force pledges to employ its best efforts towards crafting a successful relationship with COPS and the Faith-based Community Network (CFCN), and that he wished to commend the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Clement Rohee, and other architects of the initiative.
He envisions the initiative greatly benefiting crime fighting strategies whilst enhancing relationships between the police and the communities they serve.
Minister Rohee said he was pleased with the response from the leaders of the COPS and Faith-based Community Network (CFCN) and their respective constituencies, as well as with the response from the Guyana Police Force. “We definitely need more of this type of assistance and cooperation in our country,” he opined, as he lauded the project coming out of the United States, and expressed confidence that, if fashioned in accordance with local customs, the project can have viability for Guyana.
He called the CFCN a ‘people-focused project’ with the primary aim of serving people in their respective communities. “I am very pleased that the Guyana Police Force has bought into this concept, and that it is now working towards its successful implementation,” Minister Rohee declared.
In broad outline, he attempted to draw a parallel with a system which has been in place here years ago, wherein the school inspector, the welfare officer, the headmaster, the priest and the police inspector all worked together to ensure that young people at school did not unfortunately fall into the infamous category known as ‘skulkers’ (truants), and so had to be rounded up and caned for their truancy. “This (the CFCN), I believe, is a more formal arrangement; whereas the example I gave before was a more loose arrangement, as practised in the past,” Minister Rohee declared.
Representatives of the Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities each applauded the initiative in brief remarks, and had kudos for the Ministry of Home Affairs. They pledged to give unstinted support towards the success of the initiative, which seeks to reduce the number of juveniles being incarcerated.
