THE Guyana Police Force could undergo major transformation with a proposal to move from divisional to regional commanders, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has said.Speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Ramjattan, also Second Vice-President, cited the example of Division F, whose commander he said is responsible for regions One, Eight and Nine. According to Ramjattan, the changes being considered would see that commander being responsible for only one region.

“Each region will have a police division. We’ll have a commander for each of those regions, which is going to be synchronised with divisions,” Ramjattan explained.

The exception, the minister said, may be Region Four, which he said is so large that it may need two divisions. “Though we have ten regions, we’ll have eleven police divisions, Region 4 being divided into two divisions…. For example, when they go to Lethem, there would be a commander in that region to take care of all the problems, security-wise, in that region,” Ramjattan was quoted by GINA as saying.

He said the commander for the regions would communicate with the commissioner and assistant commissioners at administration, so as to get the assistance they need to execute the policies of the Government.”

According to the minister, such a move would not necessarily result in more assistant commissioners, as senior superintendents or superintendents could hold the position of commander.

The GINA report stated that the Government is implementing several measures to ensure that the Guyana Police Force can better serve and protect citizens. These include more local and overseas training for ranks, and having them better equipped so they can execute their duties.

Police stations and other facilities are also being built or rehabilitated as part of the effort to improve conditions of service for ranks.