Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Guyana gets IDB funding to help reform police force

Friday, February 2, 2007

by: Gordon French
Caribbean Net News Guyana Correspondent
Email: gordon@caribbeannetnews.com

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has made available US$22M to help Guyana's crime-fight through a reform of the CARICOM nation's police force.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and Sergio-Varas Olea, IDB’s country representative, finalised the agreement with a signing ceremony on Wednesday. According to Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who witnessed the signing of the agreement, the funds will establish a citizens’ security programme, which will enhance the relationship between the police and the community.

The citizens’ security programme is in its final stage of preparation and it will employ a multi dimensional approach toward preventing, reducing and fighting crime. It will target disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Demerara and Berbice, two of the more heavily populated areas in the country.

“The citizens’ security programme is a vital part of this reform,” Rohee said.

Several other Caribbean countries are in the process of implementing this programme with assistance from the IDB.

A survey of pilot communities was conducted in Guyana to gauge the relationship between the community and police.

“After several studies, we at the IDB decided that we should support countries that are willing to implement this programme… and we will because we want to help in the fight against violence and crime,” Varas-Olea noted.

Some aspects of the reform programme have already commenced. Training is being done for the establishment of a special crime-fighting unit and modernising of police stations countrywide. Over 100 police stations will be upgraded while 72 new stations will be erected.

Since 2002, Guyana has seen sporadic bursts of criminal activity, involving narcotics and gangs.

Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene has introduced foot patrols in the main shopping districts, backed up by mobile and motorcycle units to suppress criminal activity.

President Bharrat Jagdeo a week ago said that he is on the verge of implementing the major aspects of his planned police reform and announced the appointment of former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik as his security advisor.

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