THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), on Thursday, recognised the work of its communications ranks at a Luncheon and Awards Ceremony hosted by the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) and Radio Eve-Leary, honouring officers and staff for excellence, professionalism and dedication in police communication and public engagement.
Among the senior awardees were Sergeant Asif Hakim and Sergeant Alana Lewis, who were commended for their leadership and contributions to strengthening the Force’s communications output.
Sergeant Hakim received the Best Operational Communication Officer Award and the Editorial Award for producing clear, timely and investigation-sensitive press releases, as well as for strong editorial standards.
Sergeant Lewis received the Senior Communication Officer Award and the Editorial Award for her work in editing community relations stories and police publications.
Several other ranks were also recognised for outstanding performance across a range of disciplines, including writing, videography, photography, graphic design and overall service. Writing Excellence Awards were presented to Sergeants Odellis Dos Santos-Williams and Avinidra Rajballi, Corporal Ayana Williams and Constable Ariette Ndjelekulu. Videography Awards went to Corporal Williams and Constables Aaliyah Pompey and Nigel Emmanuel, while Photography Awards were received by Sergeants Clifford George, Avinidra Rajballi and Troy Van Rossum, and Constable Joshua Macey.
In the area of graphic design, awards were presented to Sergeant Gavin Gasper, Sergeant Troy Van Rossum, Constables Krystal Kennedy-Meusa and Nigel Emmanuel, and Mrs. Kayanna Das. The Most Dependable Staff Award was presented to Sergeant Clifford George of the CCU and Constable Jermain Anderson of Radio Eve-Leary. Inspectors Antonette Gonsalves and Carlene Murphy received Special Recognition for seconded service, while the Outstanding Improvement Awards went to Corporal Altovise Thornton (CCU) and Constable Wanita Samuels (Radio). Sergeant Joy Noel and Constable Steve Barry were presented with Good Conduct Awards, and Constable Krystal Kennedy-Meusa received the Hybrid Professional Award.
The ceremony was attended by Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken; Director of Music, Superintendent Matthew Joseph; Third-in-Command of the Tactical Services Unit, Superintendent Mohan Khan; Head of the CCU, Deputy Superintendent Jillian Bowen-Moore; Head of the Narcotics Branch, Deputy Superintendent Fiona Fredericks; Manager of the Police Officers’ Mess, Deputy Superintendent Dianne Black; Public Relations Officer Stan Gouveia; as well as other officers, ranks and stakeholders.
Delivering the feature address, Deputy Superintendent Bowen-Moore underscored the importance of communication as a central pillar of modern policing and a key tool in building transparency, trust and co-operation between the police and the public. She said the establishment of the Corporate Communications Unit and Radio Eve-Leary marked a significant step in professionalising police communication through structured messaging, coordinated media engagement and direct public outreach.
She explained that the Unit plays a central role in managing official press releases, responding to media enquiries, disseminating safety information and improving public understanding of police work and policies. She also noted that Radio Eve-Leary has become an important platform for public education and community engagement, providing timely updates on law enforcement operations, crime prevention, traffic safety and security issues, while encouraging interaction between citizens and the police.
Together, she said, the CCU and Radio Eve-Leary operate as complementary arms of the Force’s communication strategy, aimed at promoting accountability, transparency and public confidence.
Bowen-Moore also highlighted ongoing investments in training and professional development, including participation in postgraduate studies, international programmes and professional seminars, and stressed the importance of continuous evaluation and accuracy in police communication.
She congratulated the award recipients for their dedication and professionalism, noting that their work continues to strengthen the image, credibility and effectiveness of the Guyana Police Force.
