* $1.1 billion for land, air and sea ops.
* National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) 2014-2018 to be finalised.
* New National Action Plan 2014-2015 for Trafficking in persons being developed.
* $413M to equip train Community Police.

GOVERNMENT has this year allocated a total of $19.5 billion dollars to continue the emphasis on ensuring that strategic planning and evidence based interventions are made towards the maintenance of public order and safety throughout Guyana.This represents a 13% increase on allocations for last year.
During his budget presentation Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh pledged that Government will continue to prioritise resource allocations to the security sector in keeping with the vision of ensuring the safety rights and dignity of all citizens.
He said: “We will emphasise the need for competent human capital and modern technology as we strengthen the capability of our institutions and communities in a professional and proactive approach with the aim of maintaining law and order in our country.”
He said Government expended $17.3 billion on the sector in 2013 with a view to improving its effectiveness and supporting the implementation of priority actions stemming from strategic plans.
In 2014, he said government will allocate the increased sum of $19.5 billion towards continuing the upgrades of training and infrastructure.
He said that a sum of $382.6 million dollars has been allocated to train the Joint Services; training will be conducted for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit and $413 million has been budgeted to train and equip community policing groups countrywide in an effort to restore safe neighbourhoods for citizens.
Training will also commence with staff at the Forensic Laboratory on chemical analysis, drugs analysis, toxicology and court room procedures.
A sum of $1.2 billion has been allocated for the completion of the Forensic Laboratory, the fire training school and the continuous upgrading of physical infrastructure across the country; the sum of $1.1 billion has been allocated to support land, air and sea operations and another $1.1 billion allocated for equipment.
The Finance Minister also disclosed that the National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) 2014-2018 will be finalised to enhance Guyana’s ability to combat drugs at the local, regional and international levels.
In addition, a new National Action Plan for trafficking in persons is currently being developed and will guide ongoing efforts to reduce vulnerability to the lure of traffickers, expand sensitisation and awareness, broaden the involvement of civil society and strengthen law enforcement response.
Budget Enhancing Justice
* Monitoring and evaluation of the performance of Courts countrywide to be implemented
* Directions on new Rules for the High Court Civil Procedure to allow citizens easier access to this court.
* $238 million allocated for construction of a land court, new Magistrate Court at Sparendaam and maintenance of facilities country wide.
* New rules to facilitate recourse to mediation.
For 2014 the sum of $1.8 billion has been budgeted to consolidate the advances on infrastructure, strengthening the effectiveness of the justice system and accelerating the processing of criminal depositions, already made within the justice sector last year.
In addition investments in infrastructure will continue apace with an amount of $238 million allocated to fund the construction of a Land Court, a new Magistrate’s court at Sparendaam, the completion of the No. 51 Village Court, the rehabilitation of the court rooms at the high court and maintenance of facilities countrywide.

(By Clifford Stanley)