Dear Editor,
I wish to submit the following questions to Hon. Minister Clement Rohee MP in relation to and in the interest of community policing in our country.
1. Why is it that Community Policing is not promoted in the hinterland so that it can be an integral part of our hinterland security response strategy for crime preventions, bearing in mind the porous nature of our borders and the movement of criminals?
2. What are the steps to take to form community policing groups in regions such as Moruca, Rupununi, and Mabaruma etc? Whom should you consult?
3. Can the Hon Minister explain to the public what is the role of the Liaison Officers in community policing and why is he giving these officers who lack basic training greater prominence than the national body executives as well as the divisional executives?
4. Is the Minister seeking to replace the national and divisional executive committee on community policing with that of the liaison officers? If not, the Minister is promoting divide and rule tactics in community policing which should warrant the urgent intervention by the president since the liaison officers are paid with public funds.
5. Can the Minister say if the liaison officers have the necessary time on their hands to carry out their tasks successfully bearing in mind that many of the liaison officers are employed persons?
6. Can the Minister verify if what is said in the everyday monthly reports of the liaison officers is reflective of what is happening or what has happened on the ground in the respective policing divisions?
7. The functions of the liaison officers are to revive and form community policing groups. Can the Minister tell the public if there is anyone supervising the work of the liaison officers to ensure the satisfactory completion of tasks in the field?
8. Can the Minister say why he is not allowing the liaison officers to be accountable to the divisional executive committees on community policing in terms of the submission of monthly reports on their activities. After all, the divisional executive committees are the legitimate bodies responsible for the good management of community policing groups in the respective policing divisions. This is a recipe for confusion, disorganization, the lowering of morale and the subsequent collapse of community policing.
9. In the “manual of community policing groups” can the Minister say why is the national body of community policing groups not included in the organisational structure of community policing? Is the Minister trying to abolish the national body of community policing groups? If so, why this unacceptable action? Also why in the organisational structure of community policing are the liaison officers above the divisional executive committees? This is unacceptable.
10. Can the Minister not collaborate with the police administration on all matters pertaining to community policing? The Minister of Home Affairs is not an expert on policing matters and should seek the advice of the Commissioner of Police on matters pertaining to community policing. If this is not done the Minister may be presiding over the disintegration of community policing groups.
Yours faithfully,
John Issacs
