Georgetown : The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is enhancing efforts to improve its services to citizens by taking the necessary actions to address identified shortfalls.
Through support from its international development partners, the GPF has prioritised the need for training to promote and enhance professional policing values.
This was highlighted by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan today at an Inter-American Development Bank – IDB-funded, multi-donor workshop for coordinated support to the GPF.
Minister Ramjattan explained that training is crucial for police officers to ensure they execute their jobs professionally and prevent instances of prison breaks, escapes, combat corruption and reduce homicide and other crime-related activities.
“The issue of the three inmates escaping should not have happened. This is why it is important that our police remain alert… We need to strengthen community policing relations also,” Minister Ramjattan explained.
He related that most of the crimes are committed by unemployed youths and that the GPF is working on training and extracurricular activities that will divert young people from committing such crimes.
Commissioner of Police, Leslie James DSM., highlighted other areas of the force that will be improved through the donor funds. Under the Human Resource Management aspect, the training modules will be reviewed and updated, there will be more training for classroom instructors, exchange visits and leadership training for senior officers.
For infrastructure development, the top cop said GPF is seeking to expand its video rooms at Crime Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, E, F and G Divisions; upgrade and expand all training institutions; construct gender inclusive accommodation at training facilities at Essequibo and Berbice; expand the data centre and create an offsite backup system. All 19 police stations will be remodelled and rehabilitated.
There will also be some advances in GPF’s Information and Communication Technology including “the further acquisition of computers to be placed in police vehicles, which can access different databases, the expansion of the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS), acquisition of modern high frequency radios, expansion of all CCTVS and the setup of systems for the sharing of up to date information on firearms originating from developing countries,” the Police Commissioner noted.
To date, the GPF has benefitted from United States of America (US), United Kingdom Canada, CARICOM countries and the Inter-American Development Bank among others.
