Security sector allocations go unquestioned in Parliament

THE allocations for the Security Sector were unquestioned in the National Assembly on Thursday night, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Raphael Trotman pointed out to the Heads that they have the full support of the House.
The current and capital expenditures approved related to the Home Affairs Secretariat services, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service, Police Complaints Authority, Guyana Fire Service, General Registrar’s Office and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).
The CANU vote had been expected to attract some degree of scrutiny in light of the many references by Members of Parliament (MPs) to Guyana’s economic success being advanced by “drug money” and narco-trading.
Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Mr. David Granger was the last Opposition MP to make such a reference on Tuesday night.
He charged that Guyana is now closer than it has ever been to becoming a “narco-state”, based on the revelations of its narcotics linkages, and the government’s “inability” to enforce drug trafficking measures.

BETTER PAID
“Police have to be better paid and they have to be retrained; that is the most important thing, having a good Police Force…the important thing is to ensure that you have an efficient Police Force, well paid, well trained and committed to performing their duties,” he said, adding:
“It turns out now that there were local gangs operating in that area but, because of the minister’s intrusive behaviour, innocent policemen have now been stigmatised by being transferred.
“Unless you deal with the Police Force, you cannot deal with things like murder, banditry, piracy and all of these other crimes and traffic accidents can only be brought under control by an efficient Police Force.
“If you have a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that is weak, if you have traffic police that are weak or venal, they are taking bribes, you can’t stamp out crime…at any level whether it’s domestic violence or narco-trafficking.”
President Donald Ramotar has since challenged the Opposition Leader to provide evidence for substantiating his allegations.

BIG INSULT
The Head of State declared: “I think that is a big insult to all the people of our country, who are working very hard in order to develop themselves as individuals and in the process developing our country.
“…I think that the Opposition, in general, and the Leader of the Opposition, in particular, needs to apologise to the people of this country for the statement that he has made. Let him point to which building he knows that is narco-driven in this country. I find that obnoxious and a total lack of appreciation for the efforts of the hardworking people of this country.”
He further insisted that Granger should withdraw the accusations.
This year, 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.
Of the Security Sector $19.5B vote, training will be conducted for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit and $382.6M has been earmarked to train the Joint Services, while $413M is budgeted to equip, as well, community policing groups countrywide, in an effort to restore safe neighbourhoods to citizens.

COURTROOM PROCEDURES
Coursing will also commence for staff at the Forensic Laboratory on chemical and drugs analyses, toxicology and courtroom procedures.
A sum of $1.2B is for the completion of the Forensic Laboratory and the Fire Service Training School and the continuous upgrading of physical infrastructure for the Joint Services at locations across the country.
An amount of $1.1B is to support land, air and sea operations of the Joint Services, while another $1.1B is to effectively equip the Forces to serve and protect citizens.
Additionally, a new National Action Plan 2014-2015 for trafficking in persons is, presently, being developed and will guide ongoing efforts by seeking to reduce vulnerability to the lure of traffickers, expanding sensitisation and awareness, broadening the involvement of civil society and strengthening law enforcement response
This year’s provision is expected to allow Government to continue its focus on ensuring that strategic planning and evidence-based interventions are made towards the maintenance of public order and safety throughout Guyana.

(By Vanessa Narine)