GOVERNMENT has embarked on a process of reform and is revamping the national security architecture and will next year create a new department to accelerate reforming the sector, President David Granger has said.
He made the announcement during his address to the National Assembly on Thursday.
“Your Government, with the assistance of the Government of the United Kingdom, will establish a Department of Security Sector Reform (SSRAP), in the new financial year,” President Granger announced.

Since taking office in May 2015, President Granger indicated that it was his administration’s intention to have the SSRAP re-introduced.
Since then, a top United Kingdom military officer, Russell Combe, has arrived in Guyana to assist with the implementation of the SSRAP, which is part of a UK- funded initiative aimed at improving the security sector here.
The US$4.7B SSRAP which began in 2007, was scrapped in 2009 after the British Government had requested to have oversight of the programme to ensure that there was ‘value for money’.

The former People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration had disagreed with the manner in which the British Government had wanted the programme to be run, and had stated that the British had sought to intrude upon Guyana’s sovereignty.
But, in its defence, the British Government said the Government of Guyana had submitted a different proposal which had focused on police modernization, rather than a holistic approach to reform as was originally requested. The British had intended to build a workable basis for improving national security while reducing crime in Guyana by 2011.
With the implementation of the SSRAP, President Granger believes that Guyana’s security sector will be significantly strengthened. He said that Guyana’s vast and porous borders have allowed for a number of illicit activities to take place.

Last September, the President pointed to the discovery of an illegal aircraft at Yupakari, Rupununi, Region Nine, and said with a strengthened Police Force, law enforcement officials would be in a better position to address such issues.
“It is very likely that that aircraft was involved in illegal activities… Guyana still does not have the capability to protect its long borders, and its vast hinterland from being penetrated by illegal aviators and this emphasises the need for security sector reform,” he stated.

President Granger, a former Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has noted the need for there to be a stronger Police Force, one that is better equipped, with all tools necessary to function adequately. He noted that better pay is also important to reduce corruption among law enforcement officers.
“We know there is not only illegal migration, there is also the smuggling of narcotics, contraband, gun-running, trafficking-in-persons and these crimes are going to be stamped out with a more efficient Police Force… the British involvement is essential to retraining the Police Force,” President Granger had stated.

FIGHTING DRUGS
Additionally, in his address to the House on Thursday, the President said the Ministry of Public Security has promulgated a National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) and established a National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA).
“The results are clearly and daily visible. The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), now under NANA’s judicious management, has succeeded in seizing over 290 kg of cocaine, 65,000 kg of cannabis and 1,600 kg of heroin this year.”

Granger, a security expert, said his Government is also dismantling the trans-national narco-trafficking superstructure, noting that light aircrafts, believed to be associated with transnational narco-trafficking gangs, were seized by national law-enforcement agencies in the Rupununi Region.
He said the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), is re-constructing district, regional and central information architecture to guide the operations of the security forces. The National Security Committee (NSC) keeps Cabinet informed of changes in the security landscape.

“The country’s archaic and dilapidated prisons are being refashioned to ensure safety and compliance with internationally acceptable standards.
“The Ministry of Public Security is retooling the Guyana Police Force in order to improve human safety and public security. Horseback patrols are being mounted in Corentyne and in the Rupununi to reduce crime.”

STAFFING THE GPF
Touching on the manpower needs of the Police Force, the head of state said these are being addressed, while adding that the Emergency Response System is being rehabilitated and expanded to an additional 52 stations.
“Police stations are being rehabilitated under the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme. The Guyana Police Force will take delivery of several billion dollars worth of equipment donated by the People’s Republic of China to assist in law-enforcement.
“We shall continue to introduce reforms aimed at professionalising our security services and add equipment to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.”

QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE
The Guyanese leader told the House that timely delivery of quality public services requires a professional Public Service, one that is staffed by competent professionals. To this end, he said, the Department of the Public Service of the Ministry of the Presidency is dedicated to ensuring the development of a professional Public Service.
He said the Public Service Staff Training College will serve as an institution which will provide training, at all levels of the Public Service, so that a professional corps of public servants will be available to deliver quality services to citizens.