TO fortify national security, the government has allocated $2 billion to boost the “Safe Country Project,” aiming to intensify surveillance, monitor potential criminal activities, and enhance crime prevention through increased risk of detection.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh announced this initiative while presenting the 2024 national budget in the National Assembly, on Monday.

He said that what started as the “Safe City project” has now evolved into “Safe Country” with camera coverage being expanded in 2023 to include Regions Three and Six. Works are still ongoing for expansion of the initiative to Regions Four and Five.

In an effort to decentralise Guyana’s crime fighting capabilities while incorporating the use of modern technology, out of the $1.146 trillion budget, $2 billion was set aside for this project. In 2023, $2 billion was also earmarked for this project.

“Considerable improvements in the prevention and detection of criminal acts are anticipated, as well as concomitant improvements in individuals’ safety and quality of life, security of physical assets and infrastructure, financial markets, and business continuity,” the minister said during his presentation.

As part of the programme, the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is integrating information and communications technology (ICT) into its crime-fighting capabilities to enhance surveillance nationwide.

The initiative will see the entire country being connected to closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. CCTVs are designed to increase formal surveillance by making it easier for security agencies to monitor potential criminal activities and deter crime by increasing the risk of detection.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report, 2023, command centres are being constructed in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six, and 10, which will be operated by civilians and police officers in the respective regions.

The CCTV surveillance system proves invaluable to security forces, offering real-time access to critical information and improving response times to crises, ultimately enhancing community safety.

The project builds upon the success of the Safe City Project, launched in 2019, which saw the installation of numerous cameras around Georgetown and key entry ports of the country.

The multimillion-dollar Command Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, has been operational, serving the vital role of monitoring criminals, suspects, and vehicles involved in crimes.