–as high-level security team engages regional authorities

AS part of an effort to enhance security and improve the response to crime in Berbice, Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess, and other officials of the armed forces of Guyana, engaged regional authorities during a recent visit to the area.
During the visit, the team, which also included Presidential Advisor on National Security, Captain Gerald Gouveia, and Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot, met and interacted with Divisional Commander of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Jairam Ramlakhan, his administrative team and executive members of the Central Station Management Committee.

The team’s first stop was at the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, where Hoppie used the opportunity to acknowledge members of corporate society, community policing groups and other civil society bodies for the support they provide to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
“We recognise the importance of working together so we can be able to reduce crime and make our communities safer for residents,” he said, adding: “We are in the final year of the strategic plan, which runs from 2019 to 2021, and we have rolled out a set of initiatives that are about to come on stream and we are pushing to ensure that most of the activities are set out.” Further, he said: “We also need to foster more collaboration to ensure that the police is public and the public is the police.”

The Police Commissioner also utilised the opportunity to commend Divisional Commander, Ramlakhan, for his leadership style and urged him to continue community engagements. Superintendent Ramlakhan took command of Region Six in October 2020.
Ramlakhan had hit the ground running and has since been engaging with members of the public throughout the length and breadth of Region Six.
His work was acknowledged by the team, which also visited the New Amsterdam Prison. The team, guided by Elliot and Superintendent and Officer-in-Charge of the prison, Udistair Holligan, conducted a tour of the facility. During the tour of the facility, Holligan highlighted areas which could be enhanced with support from the relevant authorities. The team, in response, pitched ideas and strategies which could be employed to improve not just the prison, but also the response to crime in the area.