PRESIDENT David Granger believes the Guyana Police Force is organisationally sound, but rogue elements must be weeded out and reform recommendations implemented.He made the comments during an interview with communication officers of the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday, when he also addressed several other issues of security.

According to the release from the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger said the Police Force — which he described as essentially a sound, professional organization — has not, in the past, received the attention it deserves; and while he is satisfied that the Force has made some headway in regard to solving crime, he is not satisfied because it still has rogue elements who are not suitable to serve in that capacity.

The President posited that much more has to be done to improve the calibre of police officers within the Force.
“More has to be done. We have recruited persons who turned out to be unsuitable, and I have discussed with Minister of Public Security and the Commissioner in the National Security Council that there is need to improve training at the police training school. We need to ensure that the type of persons recruited are not only educationally qualified, but attitudinally prepared to do their work in a country like ours,” the Head of State said.

However, he noted that there has been a small number of miscreants in the 3000-strong Force when compared to the number of its strength, and he expressed satisfaction that the Force is on the road to recovery.

There has, in recent times, been a spate of violent crimes, such as armed robbery and murder, and the Head of State noted that the root cause of crime has to be addressed in order to garner long-term results.

The President, directly involved in public security planning and chairing the weekly meeting of the National Security Committee, has said the issue has become a daily preoccupation, and the safety of all Guyanese remains of critical concern.

MAJOR FACTOR
He acknowledged that trafficking in narcotics is a major factor. To this end, the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) will be set up as the Government looks to work more closely with regional and international partners to address this trans-national crime.

In addition to execution-type murders and gun-running, which are the result of the narco-trade, the President lamented the high level of interpersonal violence. He said that interpersonal violence, suicide, and violence in schools are social issues which cannot be tackled solely by law enforcement agencies; but by a collaborative effort, which includes the Ministries of Social Protection and Social Cohesion, as well as religious and non-governmental organisations.

“We have to look at social interventions, and here we call upon NGOs [non-governmental organisations] and religious communities — the mandirs, the masjids and the churches — to help us to deal with the sources of interpersonal conflicts through counselling and through delivering the sort of message that we are not a violent community and people have to learn to live together…. I am very disturbed at violence among school children and at the interpersonal violence between husbands and wives, which sometimes degenerates to arson and murder,” he said.

The President explained that, with the volume of money generated from the narcotics trade, the loyalty of the law enforcement officers and even the magisterial officers come under threat. He said the broad-base strategy Government is working on to address crime would include the setting up of a national intelligence service.

“Crime is very complex. When you deal with crime, you have to look at causation. In my view, many of the most serious crime arise out of the narcotics trade; that is a trade that I think is responsible for bringing drugs into the country, and guns,” the President said.

Regarding diverse areas across the country, the administration is also working to ensure that the GPF is better equipped and is able to operate in such areas. President Granger explained that, given Guyana’s size and terrain, the Force is working to ensure that there are more mounted police in areas like the Rupununi, which cannot be adequately covered by vehicles alone; and in certain back dams on the Coast, like Black Bush Polder in the Corentyne in Berbice, where heinous murders have recently occurred.

UK ADVISOR TO HELP
Meanwhile, Government’s plans to improve capacity of the Force will soon be boosted, as a security advisor from the United Kingdom (UK) is expected here next month to work with the administration on implementation of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP).

Simultaneously, as a broad-based measure to tackle crime, the Government is mulling the setting-up of a national intelligence service, President Granger has noted.

According to the release, as Government continues to address the incidence of crime in Guyana, the security advisor from the United Kingdom (UK), who would be on these shores next month, would be working closely with the administration to implement the SSRAP, valued at US$4.7 million.

The project had been given the proverbial cold shoulder by the previous administration when it was first proposed back in 2009, but the President described that move as a mistake and noted that the development of the security sector is critical to the fight against crime.

According to the release, the Head of State admitted that there have been instances when policemen have been bribed not to pursue investigations, files have disappeared, and officers have tried to extort money from persons who had committed misdemeanours. He said such problems can be overcome by ensuring that there is a more professional Police Force.

“My only regret is that it is taking so long to introduce these reforms. Police have been getting recommendations for over 14 years from the British Government, but they were never implemented. We are going to implement. We are going to make the Police Force a better force,” the President said.

He also reminded that there are two mechanisms in place for citizens to highlight issues of corruption as far as the police are concerned. These are the Police Complaints Authority, where investigations have led to officers being brought to trial; and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).