The Home Affairs Ministry (MoHA) has succeeded in receiving Cabinet’s approval to increase the establishment of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) from 3,410, which has been the case since 1977, to 4,956.

A total of 1,546 ranks would now be added to the Force’s strength in an upward adjustment that has become necessary because of the additional functions that the Police Force has had to perform over the years, a Home Affairs Ministry press release has said.

The statement noted that those added GPF responsibilities have resulted in the Force creating additional specialised units.

Further, because of the development of new housing areas and the expanded economic activities in the interior and in other areas of Guyana, the current strength of the Force has been deemed inadequate to man the existing and new police stations that are to be constructed, the Home Affairs Ministry release has said.

The follow-up administrative procedures that are required to move the process forward are being undertaken, the release has declared.

(Michel Outridge)