PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a strong call for members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to embrace fitness and healthy living, declaring that physical readiness must become a core part of the Force’s identity and operational culture.

The Commander-in-Chief, during an engagement with police ranks at the GPF’s Headquarters on Wednesday, rolled out a broad reform agenda, including promotions for over 2,000 officers. Beyond promotions and pay, however, the President zeroed in on fitness as a matter of national concern, linking personal health with professionalism and public trust.
“I want the police to get fit. This country has got to get fit…I said to the schools every Friday afternoon, I want children to do physical education. But you, the police, you have to lead by example…When people see the Guyana Police Force, they must see strength, fitness, dignity, responsibility,” the President said to the ranks.

President Ali made it clear that physical fitness will no longer be treated as optional. It is now a performance criterion, not just a personal responsibility, but an institutional standard.
“Everybody has to get going, to get fit and that is something on the criteria too—fitness,” he said. “Do it as a group. It is your own health.”

He pointed to the high rates of diabetes and hypertension among officers, citing sedentary lifestyles and stress as contributors to premature illness and death.
“So many police suffer from diabetes and high pressure because of their lifestyle. I don’t have to tell you, honestly… I care about y’all, want you to live long, productive lives. I want you to live long after your retirement so you can enjoy your pension,” the President said.

He encouraged officers, especially those on protection services or desk duties, to incorporate small but consistent fitness routines during their shifts.
“You don’t have to sit down in a hut. Walk with a skipping rope. You don’t have to sit down for an hour—every hour, do five minutes of skipping…If you’re on an 8-hour shift, that’s 40 minutes of skipping. That is equivalent to any exercise, as simple as it looks,” he advised.

President Ali also challenged senior ranks not to grow complacent, stating that promotions should not result in a decline in physical discipline.
“When you get to command and Inspector, it doesn’t mean that you’ve gotten to a stage where you stop. You ain’t arrived. Then is when you have to lead by example,” he said firmly.
He stressed that building a professional, respected police force involves a full shift in mindset, not just infrastructure or policy changes, but cultural transformation.

“Fitness is an important part of what we want the Force to represent. Fitness is for your own benefit. We must work together to build a stronger, more responsive, responsible, and respected police force. There must be a shift in our culture, our thinking, and our behaviour,” he added.