Georgetown :The Home Affairs Ministry has spent a budgetary allocation of $56M in 2013 to facilitate the participation of officers and ranks at various overseas and local training courses and seminars.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee said that his Ministry sees training as an imperative of the modernisation process that the sector has embarked on and as such, it is listed as a matter of high priority for the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
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.
14 applicants from the Force have been identified and interviewed for training at the Aeronautical Engineering School at Ogle. These ranks will be part of the Aeronautical Branch of the GPF and are expected to commence training later this year.
Additionally, efforts are underway to develop the structure for this unit, and to source a fixed wing aircraft for its operation.
With regards to the establishment of the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team in the GPF, a contract has already been signed with The Emergence Group (TEG), a US based company to train the ranks that will be a part of this specialised unit.
An organisational needs assessment for the unit has been completed while actual training is targeted to commence in mid January. This is being done at the cost of US $796, 987.
