THE government has expended $11.7 billion during the first six months of 2024 to strengthen the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) crime prevention and enforcement capabilities. This funding is part of the $30.3 billion allocated to the GPF in the 2024 National Budget, reflecting a strong commitment to enhancing public safety and modernising the law enforcement infrastructure.
A significant portion of this expenditure, amounting to $1.2 billion, was directed towards advancing infrastructural projects. These include the reconstruction of several police stations, such as those at Annai, Lethem, Mocha, Monkey Mountain, Sparendaam, Vreed-en-Hoop, Kitty, Mahaicony, Sans Souci, and Weldaad. Additionally, work continued on constructing Regional Division Headquarters in Regions Six and Seven, as well as ongoing developments at the Tactical Services Unit headquarters and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Notably, $215.6 million was also spent on the initial stages of the state-of-the-art Brickdam Police Station, a project that aims to significantly bolster the operational capabilities of the force.
To further support the GPF’s operational readiness, $45.4 million was spent on procuring additional vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and engines.

These acquisitions are expected to improve police visibility and response times, particularly in remote and hinterland regions where timely law enforcement intervention is crucial.
Recognising the critical role of community participation in crime prevention, the government also invested in strengthening community policing initiatives. A total of $47.3 million out of the budgeted $152.1 million was spent from January to June 2024 to form 29 new community policing groups (CPGs) nationwide.

The initiative aims to enhance collaboration between law enforcement and local communities to foster safer environments. With plans to establish an additional 15 groups in the latter half of the year, the government targets a total of 44 CPGs by the end of 2024.

Moreover, the Safe Country Initiative has been a focal point of the GPF’s efforts to ensure national security. The initiative includes expanding coverage in Region Four and setting up a command centre in Region Five to coordinate responses and monitor security incidents in real-time. Of the $250 million allocated for this initiative, $30 million has already been used to train 435 ranks. In the upcoming months, 700 more ranks are slated to undergo specialised training.

In addition to domestic efforts, the GPF has embarked on various international collaborations to elevate its operational standards and professional skills. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the GPF and the New York Police Department (NYPD), under which 29 officers are set to receive specialised training later this year. The GPF is also in discussions with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing advanced training courses to further enhance the force’s efficiency.

These efforts collectively signal a robust approach by the government to fortify Guyana’s security infrastructure and law enforcement capabilities to ensure a safer and more secure environment for all citizens.

Among the GPF’s accomplishments for this year are a 19.4 per cent decrease in serious crimes, a 6.4 per cent decrease in all categories of traffic accidents, and the establishment of District, Regional, and Hinterland Intelligence Committees in every regional police division.

Additionally, it has established an online radio station, decentralised the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to oversee and look into police misconduct and corruption, and decentralised police services such as passport application and issuance, police clearance, certificate of fitness, and sales of firearms and ammunition.
The GPF has also established gender-based violence units, child-friendly spaces, and ramps for persons with disabilities at some police stations.

In order to attract and recruit a cadre of skilled and diversified police officers, the GPF has since redesigned and digitised its entrance examination using a post-secondary standard.
The Police Force has increased the requirements for new recruits to join, requiring them to have at minimum qualifications from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) or a higher level of education. Previously, a sound primary education was sufficient to join the police force.

The Police Force Academy has also received national and international accreditation.