Georgetown : Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has made a call to opposition Leader David Granger to desist from using the security sector as a ‘political football’ stating that Granger conveniently chooses not to recognise the progress of the sector.
In a statement issued by Minister Rohee, he said Mr. Granger has obviously chosen to so do so for political reasons. Referring to a press statement issued by the Guyana Police Force, Rohee said the police recently appealed to all political parties not to use the force for political mileage.
The police’s statement also noted that the force was making every effort to improve the quality of service it provides and to gain public trust.
According to Minister Rohee, the opposition leader “likes to set himself up as the guru for the security sector in Guyana and tries to convince the nation that no one else but he has all the answers to the security situation in our country, ignoring all accomplishments and investments done since 1992 by the PPP/C Administration.”
Minister Rohee further pointed out that Mr. Granger’s PNC has never in its 28 years of misrule for the security sector, done what the PPP/C has done, “and his Security Advisor Winston Felix is very much aware of these facts.”
Minister Rohee in his statement noted that Granger continues to make erroneous comments which must be addressed so that the public can be better informed of the efforts this Government is making in the area of public safety and security.
Shedding some insight on the piracy situation, the subject Minister said it has been well established that a Guyana Police Force marine floating base was commissioned to operate collaboratively with ranks of other Law Enforcement agencies.
The Guyana Defence Force also has a similar floating base located at the mouth of the Pomeroon River.
This $49.9 million capital investment was complemented by the procurement of a boat imported from the US costing $71.4 million, in addition to four new vessels built at a cost of $4.9 million.
The PPP/C Government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to public safety and security and this is evident in capacity-building by way of training provided to the marine wing of the Force.
It was also noted that instances of piracy has dropped significantly within the past months.
Guyana’s collaborative efforts, the Minister said, with those of Suriname have contributed significantly to the reduction in instances of piracy on the Corentyne River
Further the Home Affairs Minister noted that by now Guyanese are aware that all previous strategic plans developed during Government’s engagement with local and overseas consultants have been subsumed in the current strategic plan whose implementation is being overseen by the Civilian composed Strategic Management Department.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs is awaiting resources to further engage the UK-based Capita Symonds Consultancy to implement four additional areas which are critical to building the institutional capacity of the Guyana Police Force.”
He added that it should be noted that the move by the Opposition to challenge in Court the disbursement of resources from the IDB Security Sector Loan will again stymie the implementation of plans for the achievement of the primary objective of providing comprehensive citizen security for all Guyanese.
Further it was stated that the recommendations of the Disciplined Services Commission are being implemented as recent presentations by the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service, and the Guyana Prison Service gave status updates on the progress each agency is making towards the full realisation of those recommendations.
The Progress Report was circulated to Members of the National Assembly in June 2014.
“David Granger is entitled to his opinion, but not to his own facts in this matter. It is therefore disingenuous for him to pontificate and attempt to pronounce on any of the above issues in the manner that in which he is attempting to so do.”
