MINISTER of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn, on Tuesday afternoon, led a high-level outreach to communities along the East Coast of Demerara, engaging with residents of Unity, Lancaster, and Mosquito Hall to address public safety concerns and discuss the Government’s ongoing plans for security sector development.
The interactive session, held between 16:45 and 19:35 hrs, saw the participation of Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Police (Administration) Mr. Ravindradat Budhram, Regional Division 4C Commander, Assistant Commissioner Khali Pareshram, and Administrator of the Community Policing Groups (CPG) Mr. Rishi Das.

Minister Benn emphasised the importance of building strong, cooperative relationships between the police and the public. He encouraged young people to explore careers in the Joint Services—including the Police Force, Fire Service, Prison Service, and Guyana Defence Force—and urged them to pursue academic and professional development.
The Minister also took the opportunity to outline the Government’s broader vision for community upliftment and security enhancement, noting that strategic investments are being made to strengthen law enforcement across the country.

He concluded his remarks by reinforcing Guyana’s unwavering claim to Essequibo, reminding residents that “Essequibo belongs to Guyana.”
During the engagement, residents raised several community-level concerns, including blocked drainage systems, noisy motorcycles, and derelict vehicles obstructing roadways. Minister Benn

assured those gathered that these issues would be addressed through a coordinated approach involving various government agencies.
Deputy Commissioner Budhram announced plans to establish a multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art Police Station and a new Outpost in the Mahaica area to boost public safety and improve service delivery. Two potential sites for the Outpost are currently under assessment.

Additionally, Deputy Commissioner Budhram outlined a community-focused crime prevention strategy, which includes the installation of CCTV cameras at key locations to enhance surveillance and response to criminal activity.

“We understand the importance of ensuring residents feel safe and heard. The proposed Outpost and state-of-the-art Police Station are not just buildings—they represent a renewed commitment to faster response times and more proactive community policing,” DC Budhram noted. “The future of community safety lies with our youth. We encourage them to consider careers

in the Joint Services—not only to serve their country, but to become role models and agents of change within their villages and towns.”
Residents welcomed the outreach and expressed appreciation for the leadership’s willingness to engage directly with communities on the ground. The Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to continue such consultations in other regions as part of its commitment to participatory governance and responsive public safety measures.