— in Timehri, environs

RANKS of the Joint Services will be involved in the ‘Operation Dragnet’ exercise between 06:00hrs and 18:00hrs commencing today and concluding tomorrow.The exercise will be conducted in the Timehri, East Bank Demerara area and its environs, a press release from the Guyana Police Force said.
There will be movement of Joint Services personnel and pyrotechnics will be used, which will result in periodical, loud explosions. However, members of the public are asked not to be alarmed during the period of the exercise.
‘Operation Dragnet’ commenced on December 1 and will conclude on June 1, just after Guyana will have celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary.
The exercise was initiated after a security briefing to Cabinet by Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, following instructions from President David Granger as government seeks to ramp up security in light of various security threats.
A major consideration for the deployment of the army is the current crime situation. ‘Operation Dragnet’ will see an increased presence of Joint Services members and other law-enforcement agencies at key locations across Guyana.
All members of the police force, who are not engaged in core policing functions, would be deployed to give an increased “robust presence” to boost public confidence and ensure safety of the general populace.