MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee on Friday told a press conference that training is a major priority for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and in the 2013 budget $56M was allocated for both local and overseas training.

He was at the time addressing scores of invitees at his end of year press briefing held at the Guyana Police Force Officers Training Centre at Camp Road and Young Street, Georgetown.
Rohee added that the Ministry sees training of all ranks as an imperative of the modernisation process and as a result training has been placed as a high priority for the GPF.
Rohee said that last year 81 ranks from the level of Constable to Assistant Commissioner benefited from overseas training in police procedures and operational issues, community oriented policing, leadership and computer training among others.

GPF Aeronautical Wing
Rohee said that 14 applicants from the GPF were interviewed and identified for training at the Aeronautical Engineering School at Ogle, East Coast Demerara. They are expected to begin training this year.
With respect to the Aeronautical Branch for the Guyana Police Force, efforts are underway to develop the structure of the Branch and to source a fixed wing aircraft for its operation.

SWAT
Rohee said that the Ministry of Home affairs (MOHA) has signed a contract with The Emergence Group (TEG) of the United States of America to establish a Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team within the GPF and to conduct the training for ranks who would be members of this specialised Unit, which is intended to confront special types of violent crimes.
The cost of this contract is $US796, 987.00.
He noted that an Organisational Needs Assessment for the Unit has been completed while actual training is targeted to begin this month.

Rehabilitation of the GPF Marine Wing
The minister stated that rehabilitation works to the tune of G$4.5M were conducted at the Marine Wing of the GPF and five boats and were procured at an overall cost of $64.5M
He added that two training courses for coxwains for command of territorial sea patrol boats were conducted from August 1 to 30 Aug and November 16 to 29 at the Guyana Police Force Officers Training Centre.
The main objectives of the Marine Wing are:
*to provide Marine Enforcement and General Assistance to mariners within the riverine areas and territorial sea
*to respond to emergency calls in relation to crimes on the waterways and
*to render assistance during search and rescue operations on the waterways.

He said that these measures will go a far way to ensure that the water transport and human resource capacity of the GPF Marine Wing are adequate to combat piracy and other crimes committed in our territorial sea and the internal waterways of Guyana.

Integrity Testing
Rohee said that in keeping with our efforts to ensure that the GPF remain a professional body, ranks of the Narcotics Branch and the Crime Intelligence Unit of the GPF were polygraphed last year in which several ranks failed the examination.

Firearms Licensing Approval Board
The minister added that as it regards the Firearms Licensing Approval Board which was established on July 16, 2012 continued to function in a manner consistent with its mandate of reviewing applications for the grant of firearm licences and making relevant recommendations.
He pointed out that the current procedures for the granting of firearm licences are currently being further reviewed with a view of strengthening the vetting process.
Rohee noted that regulations are being drafted which will lead to the establishment of an electronically driven Firearms Licensing Management System, inclusive of the payment of a processing fee by successful applicants.
He said that again, the Ministry requested the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs to retable the Firearms Amendment Bill in the National Assembly.

(By Michel Outridge)