THE International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently conducted a one-week Trainer of Trainers Course for members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Fourteen ranks from the GPF and 10 from the GDF attended the programme, conducted from October 26 to 30 at the Police Officers’ Training Centre. A GPF release said that some of the subject areas addressed were International Law and International Human Rights Law; Law Enforcement Functions and Responsibilities; Law Enforcement Powers; Command, Control and Accountability; and Situations of Armed Conflict.

The participants also used case studies from Guyana’s position, and applied local and international laws and best practices.

The ICRC delegation, during its visit to Guyana prior to the National and Regional Elections, had engaged the joint services and looked at local joint protocols, standard operating procedures, and international best practices in respecting human rights while carrying out mandates and responsibilities to serve and protect.

The delegation was highly impressed and convinced that both services, during their internal security posture and separate activities, do have correct mechanisms established to observe and respect human rights. It was, however, noted that there was a shortage of trainers, because most of the trainers would have retired or would be deceased; persons such as Senior Superintendent Patrick Robin, Inspector Edward Greene and the late Assistant Commissioner Derick Josiah.

The last two internationally trained Human Rights’ Trainers within the Guyana Police Force are Senior Superintendent Paul Williams (Force Training Officer) and Assistant Superintendent Angela Harding, who were trained in Barbados in 2008.

This programme, having been conducted locally, has created history within the Guyana Police Force, since it is the first of its kind wherein both GPF and GDF personnel were trained jointly on the International Rules and Standards for Policing by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The Guyana Police Force says it thanks the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Ms. Alexandra Ortiz; the trainers, Mr. T. Husty, President of GRCS, and Mrs. Dorothy Fraser, Director of GRCS; also the Chief-of-Staff for allowing his ranks to be recipients of this important training.

The Joint Services are now equipped with an additional 24 Human Rights’ Trainers.