SCORES of women in the Guyana Police Force on Thursday gathered at their first ever Women’s Forum, an activity which was organised by the Force’s one-year-old Guyana Association of Women Police.The event saw the women of the Police Force ventilating issues which affect them in and out of the force and sought to find coping mechanisms so that they would be better able to perform their duties and excel in their various roles.

In her review of the association and its work for last year, Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham told the participants that even though the association is one year old, it has been able to make several strides from November 2012 to November of this year.
Those represented at the Forum were women from all the police divisions and the force’s headquarters.
According to the senior policewoman, the tasks of the group presented quite a challenge for the first year, but the women involved from all Divisions were hard workers who did their bit to ensure that the association was not a failed attempt.
Inspector Graham noted that the women who have been part of the forum were required to raise funds to secure their jerseys which were printed with logos of the association and they were very successful at that initiative.
There were some women who were not too keen on joining the association, but after a church service at which most of them were present, they opted to be part of the forum and the association, Graham explained.
For the coming year, the association has a number of activities planned to ensure that it has a physical presence in society and on the agenda are outreaches, health fairs, tea and hat parties and a pageant for women in the police force.
Graham called on all those who are part of the association to ensure that they keep the fires burning and work to ensure that the association remains positive and becomes well known in various communities.
The body has been registered as a friendly society and next year it plans to open its own account. The finances which the association have been able to raise so far were handed over for safe keeping to the Guyana Police Force Finance Department.

Meanwhile, retired senior police officer Clair Jarvis in outlining the history of the body, recalled that there were several hurdles which prevented the force from having such an association earlier. Among these were the reluctance of at least one past police commissioner and the general elections of 2011. However, everything went into overdrive with the elevation of Leroy Brumell to the post of Commissioner of Police and he also assisted the body financially.

Top Cop’s Support
According to Jarvis, Brumell has been making the business of the association his interest and has been ensuring that the body receives the necessary support as an arm of the Guyana Police Force.
She recalled that everything started in 2004 when there was a programme held for only women sergeants of the police force. At that encounter, the issues which affected women in the force were examined and it was decided that an association was needed.
The Guyana Association of Women Police has vowed to have a dynamic presence in the society and to do its part to ensure the welfare of those women who serve the force.
Written By Leroy Smith