Receiving Chinese gift vehicles…
AMBASSADOR of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Yu Wenzhe, handed over 10 new mini-vans to Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, on Friday.
The latter received the motor vehicles on behalf of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at a ceremony on the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Drill Square, Eve Leary, Georgetown. In his remarks on the occasion, the diplomat said it was an indication of the good relations between the two countries, which have deepened and widened and become multi-dimensional.
He said it is also indicative of the appreciation of the GPF service and protection of people in Guyana, including the Chinese community.
“I have noticed that the motto of the GPF is ‘Service and Protection’ and this is very important to the development of the economy and the social sectors. I hope this donation will help, a little bit, to increase the capability of the Guyana Police Force to provide better service and protection to the people here in Guyana to create a more  favourable  environment for the economic and social development of the country including, a more favourable investment environment for foreign investments,” the envoy stated.
Rohee addressing the gathering, including officials of the Chinese Embassy and GPF officers, upon receipt of the master key to the vehicles, expressed gratitude to the donor nation.
“This is another expression of the growing cooperation between the Chinese people and the people of Guyana. We, in the law enforcement arena, welcome this development and are ready and willing to make our contribution to the strengthening of relations at the appropriate level,” he remarked.
Rohee added: “We would welcome cooperation in other areas within a framework of a Memorandum of Understanding and cooperation between the law enforcement agencies in Guyana and the law enforcement agencies in the People’s Republic of China.”
He also spoke of other support, particularly in the area of training in every facet of law enforcement, fighting drug trafficking, border control, forensic and traffic control.
Rohee said the training of police ranks is a must and the government of Guyana is committed to facilitating it, both nationally and internationally.

Increasing challenges
“With the increasing challenges and new areas of criminal innovations which are opening up, the Guyana police cannot and must not be left behind while their colleagues around the world are making headway in confronting organised crime,” he said.
According to him, it is not to say that the GPF has not been scoring successes in the fight against crime, criminal enterprise, gangs, narcotics trafficking and illegal firearms and the successes have been many and so have been the setbacks.
“But, just as in other parts of the world there are four seasons, here, in Guyana we have two and, therefore, you cannot have sunshine for 365 days,” he posited.
Continuing, he said: “The main point is that I have not seen any sign of the Force backing down, backing away nor backsliding from what they are, lawfully, authorized to do. Anytime this happens, it is the criminal world which will be the beneficiaries and the populace will, ultimately, suffer.”
Rohee took the opportunity to call on the GPF ranks, as they go about their lawful duties whether on foot, land or water, to continue the posture that is aggressive, humane and professional at all times, whether in the area of traffic, criminal investigation, patrols or regular patrolling on the street.
He said he has no doubt that the new vehicles, gifted by the Chinese people, will serve to further enhance the mobile capacity of the GPF to execute its lawful responsibilities and, in this regard, a critical area that has been under constant scrutiny is the issue of response time to calls for assistance by members of the public.
Rohee recalled that, at a recent retreat, the issue was discussed and recommendations were made for improvements in this area.
He said, some time last year, at a handing over of vehicles bought for the GPF, he had asked for the submission, to his office, of an inventory of its mobile capacity so that an examination can be made as regards to the capability to respond, promptly, to calls for assistance in any neighbourhood, in any part of the country, at any time of the day or night.
“I want to, publicly, acknowledge the receipt of the inventory and to inform that an analysis was made and we are satisfied that the Force is adequately equipped to respond to calls for assistance at anytime,” Rohee assured.