Combating crime and violence

Update on the Drug Strategy Master Plan

On June 21, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced a comprehensive five-year plan to combat crime and violence.

From the launching of the plan the Head of State outlined a number of interventions which will see the effective execution of plan to create a safer environment and to equip the Force with the skills and intelligence in dealing with crime related activities.

Here is an update on these enhanced interventions:

Heighten stakeholders’ involvement in implementing crime prevention and crime fighting measures

Five meetings have been held with the Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira, and/or Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix, senior officers of the GPF and representatives of the business community in which a number of recommendations were made and are being implemented.
There has been an increase in Police visibility using more patrols –uniformed, vehicular, on foot.
The private sector promised to provide bicycles and motor cycles to the GPF to enhance the types and levels of patrol in vulnerable areas.

Establishment of a National Commission on Law and Orde r

The compilation of this body is presently being reviewed.

Creation of Community Policing Ministerial Unit

A Community Policing Secretariat is to be set up shortly at the Ministry of Home Affairs to assist Community Policing Groups (CPGs) and to improve their partnership with the GPF in crime prevention and crime fighting.
A coordinator and two field assistants will be selected to administer the Secretariat.
The Ministry will acquire four single- cab pickups for the most vulnerable areas. There is money available for materials for uniforms and kits for a number of rural constables as well as members of functioning CPGs.
Additionally, containers are being sourced to be used as bases for CPGs.
A meeting is scheduled before year end with representatives of all functioning CPGs with the Minister of Home Affairs and the GPF.

Tougher action against Racial Incitement and Violence

The Attorney’s General Department is currently reviewing existing legislation, as well as complaints which will be dealt with in accordance with the laws.

Greater NGO Involvement In Crime Prevention

Meetings were held with the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations and the National Executive of CPGs to strengthen their collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the GPF in crime fighting.
Community outreach meetings are being planned in a number of areas as well as meetings with NGOs with specific interests such as the Gold and Diamond Miners Association to discuss possible and common areas of collaboration.

Introduction of the Neighbourhood Police

Commanders of Police Divisions have begun receiving applications for community-based residential police, the Neighbourhood Police.
Six hundred persons countrywide will have the opportunity to perform the duties of a community-based Police as a result of this initiative. The recruitment drive will be an ongoing exercise.
The first batch of approximately 130 persons will complete training and commence working before year-end.

Penal Reform with emphasis on correction and reintegration

On July 25, 20 Prison Officers and inmates participated in a five-day literacy workshop.
Discussions between officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prison Service are ongoing to implement other programmes which will benefit inmates.
Inter-sectoral initiatives are being proposed to give more assistance to parolees and newly released inmates to improve their ability to re-enter society and be productive. The same is under discussion reference deportees.

Heighten attention to vulnerable and at-risk groups

On June 22, President Jagdeo officially launched the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment at Thirst Park which will benefit 5,200 out of-school-youths. Applications are being received at the Board of Industrial Training and training is scheduled to begin in September.
The Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) – a Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport initiative has completed its recruitment campaign this year for the Kuru Kuru Training Centre, Linden/Soesdyke Highway. There were over 600 applications from all 10 regions with 225 selected to begin their training by mid-September. The 80-odd students at the Sophia Training Centre will graduate in November.

Waiver of Duty and Taxes on electronic surveillance equipment for the private sector

In response to His Excellency’s initiative a number of submissions have been made by business houses to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). These are being processed.

Enhance traffic regulations

Amendments to the existing laws are presently under review many of which are out of date.
The Traffic Department has completed its proposal for the key and critical junctions that require traffic lights. Funding is being sought to install these at strategic/busy intersections in the city.
The Traffic Department will be making proposals for an improvement in the present parking facilities for mini-buses/cars in the City.
The Traffic department is acquiring radar guns and breathalyzers to assist in dealing with speeding and drunk drivers.

Combating white-collar crimes

Additional training will be made available to assist ranks of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) in detection and prosecution of perpetrators to justice.

Improving Immigration services

Tenders for machine readable passports are being evaluated by Procurement and Tender Administration.
An Immigration Office has been set up to provide services to residents of Region Seven, as well as to monitor the influx of illegal immigrants entering the country. Since then, there have been a number of deportations.
The improved facilities at CJIA for Immigration, CANU, GPF, and the GRA will help to detect and improve security at important entry poinst.
The construction of the multi-purpose port of entry building at Lethem which should be completed early next year will also enhance initiatives to better secure entrance of illegal guns and drugs, and other illegal undocumented items.

Gun control

Police have confiscated over 80 illegal firearms so far for the year, almost double the seizures of 2004 and 2003 respectively.
There has been heightened security at ports of entry to detect any illegal smuggling operations.
Review of legislation is ongoing to allow for crimes executed using guns to be treated more seriously.

Strengthen law enforcement agencies

The $37M Bartica Police station was officially opened on July 21.

This is the first of four new stations which will be constructed this year. The other three are Sophia, Diamond and Fort Wellington are presently under construction.
The newly constructed East Ruimveldt Police Outpost was reopened on September 8 th
G$187M has been budgeted this year for the repair and rehabilitation of 21 Police facilities including over 14 police stations in 8 of the 10 regions. The others are living quarters for senior officers and other ranks in a number of out-stations which will help to improve their conditions of service and efficiency. Contracts have already been awarded for 70% of these.
Three vehicles have been purchased from India - two bullet-proofed and one rapid intervention. These are scheduled to arrive soon.
To strengthen personnel in the Force, a countrywide recruitment campaign began on August 27.
Cars, motor cycles, boats and engines are being acquired to further boost the Force’s capabilities as well as equipment to enhance their communication and forensic capacity.
At the moment a Junior Officers’ three month training programme is being conducted.
An 11-day tactic and riot drill exercise was also conducted to gear for elections 2006 and CWC 2007. It will be a continuous training exercise.
Key personnel within the Force attended 40 short-term training programmes overseas in the last year.
Minister Teixeira signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on September 5, for a ‘Computer Based Training Programme’, designed to further strengthen the capabilities of law enforcement agencies to fight drug trafficking.

Police Prosecutors completed an 18-month training programme on September 9 th, thereby strengthening the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Discussions are nearing completion between the GOG and the IDB on the Citizenship Security Project that will cost US $5M which will assist in institutionally strengthening both the GPF and the Ministry of Home Affairs. This will include the creation of a Crime Observatory in the MOHA and modernisation of a number of Police facilities across the country.
The support of DFID and the UK government will ensure training for the GPF in areas of public order

The Inter-American Centre for Drug Abuse and Crime (CICAD) support through the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism held a two-day inter-agency workshop with stakeholders.

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