IN keeping with the Government of Guyana (GOG) initiatives to strengthen the security sector by reducing crime and improving citizen security nationwide, three national surveys were recently concluded as part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, however, the survey was a collaborative effort that also included the University of Guyana.
According to a statement shared via the ministry’s official Facebook page, “The Final Reports for the three recently concluded national surveys were today, Friday, August 19, 2022, handed over to the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Robeson Benn, M.P, in the Ministry’s boardroom.”

The surveys cost $46.9 million and commenced in the latter half of 2021. The three surveys, which concluded in July of this year, were the Business Victimisation Survey, the Quality of Government Services survey, and the Safe Neighbourhood and Public Perception on Safety survey.

Providing brief details on each, the ministry said the first survey was “The Business Victimisation Survey, which solicited responses from local firms concerning the types, incidence and prevalence of crime experienced; the items stolen or damaged; the costs of crime, including financial loss or damage; the reporting patterns and action taken by the relevant authority (police, etc.).”

The second survey, the ministry said was the “Quality of Government Services Survey, whereby a random sample of citizens who have sought government services relating to the Criminal Justice System was done at government service locations with the intention of determining the overall citizen’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services provided based on the outcomes and efficiency of service.”

The third survey, it continued, is the “Safe Neighbourhood and Public Perception on Safety Survey, whereby representative samples from each of the twenty (20) CSSP beneficiary communities were surveyed and compared with responses from a representative sample of residents from other Urban Communities throughout Guyana so that the impact of CSSP crime and violence prevention interventions can be assessed and changes in the levels of Crime and Violence over time in various communities can be documented.”

Minister Benn, for his part, expressed gratitude to both the IDB and the University of Guyana for their support in conducting the surveys. Through the collaboration, there was also an evaluation and understanding of the reports which would help to improve policing and reduce incidence of crime and violence.

The focus will be specifically on low income communities, Indigenous communities, and the experiences of women and children.
“The IDB Citizen Security Strengthening Program is supporting the Government of Guyana to improve the rule of law through the strengthening of citizen security and justice institutions, recognising a nexus between the rule of law, and creating a competitive business environment that will attract investors,” said Lorena Solorzano Salazar, IDB Chief of Operations and Acting Country Representative in Guyana.

“Citizen security and justice,” Salazar continued, “are key pillars for the IDB Vision 2025 for institutional strengthening for powering the economic recovery and for a sustainable development for all its citizens”.
“We are very happy that we were approached by CSSP to be a part of the study”, Dr. Emmanuel Cummings, Deputy Vice Chancellor, UoG, noted.

Dr. Cummings highlighted that one of the recommendations, after reviewing the surveys, is to have evidence-based policies. He said this is one of the main strategies in dealing with issues of security, safety, and having an environment that fosters economic development.

“We are very happy that the University was a part of this, and we look forward to future collaboration so that we can support the government’s drive to ensure safety as we build a nation that all of us can be proud of”, he asserted.

The recently completed Surveys aim to establish baseline information, compare current with previous data and assist policymakers in decision making, strategic planning, operational improvements, legislative reforms for capacity building, and other initiatives to reduce the rates of crime and violence in Guyana.

The Citizen Security Strengthening Programme is a Loan Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank, which was signed in February 2015 and is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

The main objective of the CSSP project is to contribute to a reduction in crime and violence in Guyana, especially in the high-crime targeted communities.
Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs; Vishraj Singh, Project Manager – CSSP; Dr. Olly Perreira of the UoG; Mark Pertab, Procurement Specialist – CSSP; Ravena Gildharie, Communications and Outreach Consultant, IDB; and Derise Williams, Senior Operations Associate, IDB were also present.