IN an effort to bring justice to all parts of Guyana, the Ministry of Home Affairs has officially opened bids for the completion of the Police divisional headquarters in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and the rehabilitation of the administration building of Berbice’s Felix Austin Police College (FAPC).

According to the Invitation for Bids (IFB) published by several online and print media platforms, reputable bidders are being sought for the projects.

Bids for the projects are to be submitted no later than June 8, 2023 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office.

Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) Procedures specified in the Procurement Act 2003.
Moreover, bidding documents can be uplifted from the Finance Department of the Home Affairs Ministry for a non-refundable fee of $3,000.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) was allotted a whopping $3.185 billion in the 2023 budget. This budget catered for provision of police stations, regional command centres, living quarters and transportation and equipment.

Meanwhile, in April, the ministry opened bids to rebuild the Brickdam Police Station.

The Brickdam Police Station, which housed the Guyana Police Force’s Regional Division 4 ‘A’ Headquarters, went up in flames on October 2, 2021. More than 80 per cent of the structures in the compound were destroyed.

The Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, had provided a detailed breakdown including the unit cost, total cost and quantities of all 79 items that were listed as destroyed as a result of the fire.

The total damages amounted to $104,391,200 with the highest cost being $10.75 million for 43 complete computer sets.

Among the other items destroyed were closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems valued $2.4 million; handcuffs valued $1.56 million; laptop computers amounting to $5 million; body cameras valued $2.5 million and some $7.2 million for copy machines. Also listed as destroyed are 30 air conditioning units valued at $9.6 million; 228 office chairs valued $6.48 million; $2.1 million in video surveillance systems and a $4.5 million minibus.

Minister Benn had announced, in December 2021, that a modern 11-storey police station will be constructed at the location. A $400 million allocation for this project was included in the 2022 National Budget.