–Lance Corporal Shamar Marcus named ‘Best Cop’, Sergeant Hilton Benjamin is runner-up

OWING to improved intelligence gathering and information sharing, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has experienced a 47 per cent reduction in serious crimes for 2022.

This include decreases in crimes such as robbery under arms, robbery with violence, break and enter, and larceny and burglary.

Those statistics were shared by Regional Divisional Commander, Khemraj Shivbaran, on Wednesday, during his remarks at the Regional Christmas Luncheon and Award Ceremony held at Jaigobin Hotel in Henrietta, Region Two.

“The residents in Region Two can testify that they are now seeing more police presence in their community, and this will continue to happen,” Shivbaran said.

According to Shivbaran, in 2021 the division had 50 reports of serious crimes, but in 2022 the division only received 30 reports.

Shivbaran said that the region also saw an increased crack down on persons in the region involved in narcotics trade. However, notwithstanding this accomplishment, Shivbaran called on the officers to remain vigilant.

“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done so that we can continue to have a reduction of crime in the region,” Shivbaran said.

During the award ceremony, the hardworking policemen and women, and others responsible for the safer region were honoured. Some 85 persons including police officers, members of the private sector, neighbourhood police, among others were honoured at the event. Region Two has some 205 policemen and women.

Lance Corporal Shamar Marcus, 23, was named as the Regional “Best Cop” of 2022, while Sergeant Hilton Benjamin was awarded the runner-up.

The two policemen were commended for having shown outstanding performances and diligence in their work throughout the year.

Marcus received $50,000 along with a trophy and a certificate while Sergeant Benjamin received $25,000 along with a trophy and a certificate.

Noting his pleasure at being awarded, Lance Corporal Marcus pledged to continue his efforts to represent citizens and protect their rights. Sergeant Benjamin also vowed to continue to dedicate his efforts to improving security and safety in the division.

Also present at Wednesday’s ceremony was Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Head of Special Branch (HSB), Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, who offered congratulations and greetings to the police officers on behalf of the Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, who could not attend.

Delivering the feature address, Watts said that the 47 per cent decrease in serious crimes made Region Two the best division in the country for reduction in serious crimes.

Deputy Commissioner Watts credited the region’s improvements to the enhanced resources that is has received over the past year. According to Watts, for 2022 over $3 million in awards was given out to the policemen and women in the region, while an additional $300,000 has been approved by Commissioner Hicken for the officers of the region.

Describing Region Two as “the most outstanding division,” Watts called on the officers of the region to continue to excel in their fields.

“I want to congratulate the Commander and his team. I call Region Two a quiet zone, but do not take that quiet zone as a means to sit back, continue to work hard, continue to engage your community, and practice team policing. That is what efficient policing is, we must act smarter in the Guyana Police Force,” Watts said.

He urged them to also become heedful of cybercrimes, and improve capacity to deal with this rising crime by getting enrolled in information technology classes. Aside from this, he urged the police ranks to continue to pursue studies of all kinds in order to make themselves more marketable.

Also making remarks at the event, Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, called on the police to continue to work to protect the region. She told them to maintain their image so that the business community can continue to have confidence in them.

She said the regional administration will continue to work with the GPF to ensure that all persons are protected in the region.