– upgrades for prison, police and fire service

GOVERNMENT has allocated $38.9 billion, in the 2020 Emergency Budget, to commence the reformation of national security.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who was given the responsibility by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to present the national budget, said this sum will improve the prison systems, police stations and the fire service.

He said the prison system will undergo improved conditions, while compulsory training and educational opportunities for prisoners, along with the security and safety of prison officers will be ensured.

In the area of prison reform and improvement, the minister said government will continue to invest in the provision of training opportunities for both inmates and prison management staff as those are crucial to the health and rehabilitation of inmates.

Government, he said will continue to work on the Mazaruni and Georgetown prisons, and will commence reconstruction of Lusignan prison, which is allocated $200M in the budget.

Overall, Minister Edghill said government has planned to expend $2 billion on the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of prison facilities countrywide.

Further, he said government intends to strengthen the security forces as resources will be deployed to improve investigative and forensic capabilities of law enforcement while providing equipment, facilities and training for law enforcement officers.

Noting that every Guyanese citizen is entitled to safer communities, where life can flourish unhindered, Minister Edghill said crimes in communities are detrimental to the quality of citizens lives and take a toll on the development of businesses.

“Historically, PPP/C administrations have taken measures to reduce crime and support safer communities. Unfortunately, under the APNU-AFC administration crime has been on the increase across our nation, no rehabilitation of our prison system was undertaken, and there exists a backlog of cases in our court system,” the minister said.

As such, he said government has allocated over $1 billion for ongoing works on police stations and divisional headquarters to align the police’s boundaries with Guyana’s administrative regional boundaries.

These stations include headquarters at Anna Regina, Fort Wellington, Mabaruma, Golden Grove and Mahdia.

In addition, police stations will be constructed at Cove and John, Brickdam, Matthew’s Ridge, Leonora, Lethem, Whim, Albion, Parika, Wismar and Mahdia.

Government, he said has also set aside $428.1M for the procurement of 50 vehicles to ensure our police officers are adequately equipped to fight crime.

“Mr. Speaker, as with the Police Force, Government has allocated sums to provide more equipment and better facilities for the Guyana Fire Service. Approximately $63M is allocated to procure two water tenders for Linden and Bartica, as well as to upgrade the facilities at Mahdia. Additional vehicles, tools and equipment will also be procured to aid in firefighting,” Minister Edghill said.

Further, Minister Edghill said government will also focus on expanding the use of ICT in the fight against crime, providing better remuneration and conditions for the officers in the security forces and ensuring greater accountability by the Police Force for solving crime.