THE Guyana Police Force’s Public Relations Department is among the first to undergo training as part of the Force’s reform process.

On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, ranks of the department took part in a workshop in Media Relations and Communications Skills, which was facilitated by two high-ranking Media Relations and Communications Specialists from the United Kingdom.

Dr. Joan Boyd and Ms. Susan Corbett travelled to Guyana and met with the Force’s Top Brass and, shortly after, began working with the Public Relations Officer (PRO) and his team in an effort to advance their capabilities in the disciplines of communication and public relations, as well as to highlight necessary departmental upgrades which would coincide with best practices of modern policing.

The training consisted of the fundamentals of reporting as well as guidelines for effective communication, aimed at internal and external audiences. The ranks also received sound advice from Senior Crime Journalist, Mr. Rabindra Rooplall of the Guyana Chronicle.
Dr. Boyd and Ms. Corbett who are here through the auspices of the British High Commission, have worked as journalists in Northern Ireland and have also worked, very closely, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. They are reputable Media Consultants spanning the areas of Public Relations, Communications, Crisis Communications, Journalism, Media Relations, Corporate Communications and Social Media.

The program concluded on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at the Officers’ Training Centre where the Force’s Communication Relations Officers, as well as the divisional correspondents from all policing divisions and also two representatives from the Guyana Prison Service, experienced a similar type of training in communication skills.
In October 2018, Commissioner James promised a reformed police force by March 2019. This was corroborated by His Excellency President David Granger earlier in January 2019, at the opening of the Annual Officers’ Conference. The President reiterated the need for an incorruptible, professional and unbiased police force. Twenty-seven ranks, inclusive of two prison officers, were in attendance.