THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is looking at several new methods of transporting, or escorting persons transporting, large sums of cash from one location to another.

While the details of the new plan have not been made clear, the business community of Georgetown and its environs has been informed of this by ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken at a follow-up meeting to several other meetings he had had with them in the past.

That meeting was held at the ‘A’ Division Headquarters in Georgetown on Monday.

The members of the business community were reminded that it is advisable for them to inform the police in advance whenever they intend to have transactions with large sums of cash, so that protection can be provided.

They were reminded that many business persons and ordinary civilians had lost millions of dollars because they had carried large sums on their persons, believing that no one was aware, but the reality proved otherwise.

As recently as yesterday, the police were called to respond to another case in which gunmen walked up to a vehicle in the city, snatched a bag of money, and made good their escape unchallenged.

Persons were reminded that distance is time; and when money bags are snatched, it is very important for the police to be immediately informed, since every elapsing second allows the perpetrators to travel further away from the scene.

Hicken also informed the gathering that a meeting is being convened with private security service providers to address the whole issue of better protection for the transfers of large sums, and the need for collaboration between the police, security service providers, and the business community.

He called on members of the business community to improve their relationships with each other despite the competition, and to understand the need to communicate and share information which would prevent everyone from falling prey to bandit attacks.

The ‘A’ Division Commander and his team were also invited to visit the premises of several business persons to inspect and make recommendations in regard to strengthening the physical infrastructure, and to review the present security arrangements and make suggestions for improvement.

(By Leroy Smith)