THE Guyana Police Force has benefitted from an unprecedented number of training opportunities for the past two years, Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine has said.

He was at the time addressing reporters at a media conference held at his office on Friday. Ramnarine said the force is growing from strength to strength and developing. He said over the last year there has been improved collaboration within the joint services and enhanced support and partnerships with key stakeholders, government ministries and private citizens. Ramnarine also lauded the efforts and contributions of the Canadian Justice Education Society (JES). He said 339 ranks from constables to assistant commissioners were trained overseas in the last three years of which 131 received training in 2017.

Further, he said 271 officers were trained by JES of Canada of which 80 per cent are Criminal Investigations Department (CID) operatives. Additionally, Ramnarine said 175 officers and ranks benefitted from Nations University training and 55 immigration officers benefited from border security training sponsored by the United Kingdom. Additionally, he said 195 junior ranks received training in medical first responders programme conducted by the Director of National Emergency Medical Service Dr. Zulfikar Bux and staff of Project Dawn, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. “For no year except 2017 did we witness such a large number of ranks being trained, whether local or overseas, it is unprecedented. The recruitment of 794 persons, more than any other year, in 2017; there were 639 for the regular service, 155 for the special constabulary and of the 639, the CID benefitted from 125,” the acting police chief said.

In addition, Ramnarine reported that some 46 police stations and buildings were rehabilitated within the last two years with 55 per cent done in 2017. “We have 12 more identified under the Citizens Security Programme Phase 2, which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and at seven of these stations rehabilitation has started. This is important because we want to bring stations and buildings in line with staff and community needs; this is all intended to improve the socio-economic status of our ranks,” Ramnarine said.

Promotions

Meanwhile, Ramnarine said a number of senior ranks are eagerly awaiting the reconstitution of the Police Service Commission (PSC) with many anticipating promotion ahead of their scheduled retirement. He told reporters that last year 13 senior ranks retired while this year four more are expected to retire. He said those retired gazetted officers included assistant commissioners, senior superintendents, and assistant superintendents. “The senior administration of the force has not wavered, but we have been manifestly steadfast and resolute in ensuring that the requisite standards of professionalism is maintained with specific reference and regards to public trust, which impacts significantly on confidence, support, respect and cooperation,” Ramnarine said.

With this in mind, Ramnarine said 31 ranks who committed infractions were in 2017 dismissed after investigations were concluded and legal advice sought. They were charged and placed before the court. This he said is against 26 in 2016.
Commending the Office of Professional Responsibility for a job well done, the Commissioner (ag) said while there was a five per cent increase in complaints in 2017 with 644 as against 609 in 2016, there has been a 78 per cent completion in dealing with complaints of last year.

“This increase in complaints based on our analysis is largely due to increased public confidence in our investigative processes, where persons feel confident and comfortable to report infractions,” he said.

Of the infractions, eight resulted in criminal charges and 187 were departmental charges and 49 ranks were warned. Nevertheless, the Commissioner (ag) said the GPF delivered a satisfactory performance for last year when compared with previous performances. Noting that the role of the law-enforcement agency is increasingly demanding, he said the force was on many occasions constructively criticised but seldom praised, which is understandable in a developing society.