It is an uncontested given, that social infrastructure is the platform upon which every modern State is built. Call it the sin qua non of the latter’s existence, since it gives defined direction to the growth and development pathway, shaping citizens’ lives in the process.

It explains, therefore, the multi-billion dollars spent by the PPP/C Government in its pivotal programme of building and restoring critical infrastructure that had become obsolete, and obliterated, by the historic date of October, 1992.

Since the safety of a nation’s citizens is paramount for its advancement, its law enforcement arm has to be well equipped to ensure this most important function.

As an example, the total sum of $73.1B has been allocated to the security sector for the period 2010 – 2014.
This, and prior sums since 1993, has resulted in a wholesale re-equipment to provide the Police Force with the resources to enable its ranks to better serve and protect the nation, as spelt out by its motto.
It explains why new police stations and outposts have been built in areas that were in dire need of the presence of law enforcement personnel; existing police stations refurbished; and outposts built.
These new precincts, especially, now have interviewing rooms, and specific facilities to deal with the social nightmare of domestic violence reports.
Given the organised nature of crime and for law enforcement to be abreast, the Guyana Police Force now has installed the Integrated Crime Information System. It enables police stations to process data very quickly as it relates to suspects and persons who are detained for criminal investigation.
A central feature of this continuous re-tooling of the Guyana Police Force has been its mobile capacity, as again exemplified by a recent media report of 50 new vehicles procured from the 2013 Budget allocation. This should place the number of vehicles received by the Police Force over the past decade to well over 600.
There is no doubt that more than at any other time in its history, the Guyana Police Force enjoys greater mobility in being able to get to critical areas, in addition to answering citizens’ calls for assistance. But there is a constant report from affected persons, inclusive of crime victims, that their emergency calls when answered are often met with the response of “no vehicle available”. This is indeed very surprising, given the continuous allocation of vehicles to the Force; and it was the case in Kitty a few months ago, when bandits attacked and robbed a wake house.
We do posit that each police station in Guyana should have at least two vehicles at the ready for any contingency, as would be expected. And since these vehicles have been procured at great expense to taxpayers, it is expected that these must be ready for use as designated. On many occasions, police vehicles are seen in places where they ought not to be, even involved in functions that are not part of their remit.
Let it be reminded, that the element of prompt and speed is a critical essential in apprehending criminals/suspects, and this is reflected in how quickly lawmen arrive at the scene of a crime. This is what citizens expect, apart from the fact that these vehicles must be driven with due care.