The Private Sector will participate in the selection process for the 10 civilians who will work in a new Strategic Management Department to oversee reforms of the police force.
This was disclosed by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee during a meeting on February 27 with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
A release yesterday from the Ministry of Home Affairs on the meeting said that Rohee in his remarks said that advertisements have already been placed in the media for 10 highly trained civilians, who will comprise the strategic management department. These civilians will work with the leadership of the Force to ensure proper implementation of the plan.
The Strategic Management Department was one of a raft of reforms that Rohee announced on the last day of 2012. A UK consultancy has been retained to help guide the Security Sector Strategic Plan which critics have said is many years overdue.
The Chamber had requested a meeting with Rohee to discuss the security strategy. The Chamber team was led by Gerry Gouveia.
Among the matters raised by the Chamber were:
1. Role of the private sector in implementing the security strategy.
2. Perceived escalation of crime in the country.
3. ‘Shakedowns’ by Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which was described as an embarrassment to the country.
4. Security for the mining community.
5. Firearm licence for Miners.
6. Establishment of an air wing for the Police Force.
On the question of crime, the ministry release reported that the Chamber was told that it is difficult to control crime perceptions, “particularly, in democracies where there are so many freedoms, and politically-aligned media houses, which promote the interests of political parties, as in Guyana.”
The statement said that it was “acknowledged that due to perceptions it would appear that crime is on the increase, because of the way in which incidents of crime are reported in some sections of the media.” The statement did not say if this acknowledgement was shared by the Chamber.
The statement added that Rohee emphasized that policy positions are devised on the basis of official statistics on reported crime. He adverted to the efforts being made by the Ministry to encourage persons to report crimes committed. The Online Crime Reporting System (OCRS), which enables persons to use their phones and computers to make reports, and the ipaidabribe website, which will soon be launched to enable persons to provide information on circumstances that forced them to pay bribes to public officials were cited by the ministry. Ministry officials had last year reported that the ipaidabribe website was already up and running.
The statement said that the Chamber was told that there is a role for all stakeholders in the implementation of the security strategy, including the political opposition, which Rohee said he remains willing to work with, in the interest of the country.
Strategic Plans developed for the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana Prison Service, were also highlighted. It was then that reference was made to the Strategic Management Department that will be established at the Guyana Police Force.
“The Chamber learnt that the Private Sector will play a significant role by participating in the selection process for the persons who will work in this new Department. The interviews will be conducted shortly”, the statement said.
It was also revealed that a Prison Service Steering Committee which will soon be set up will include civilians, to oversee the implementation of that organization’s Strategic Plan.
The statement also said that reference was made to the work of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), CANU, and the Task Forces on Smuggling and Contraband, and Narcotics Drugs and Illicit Weapons, respectively, which continue to make an impact on the fight against crime.
Questions have been asked about the NIA and what exactly it has been doing despite the expenditure of large sums and the setting up closed circuit TV throughout the city. Neither Rohee’s Ministry nor the Office of the President has provided any information on this.
The Chamber was told at the meeting that persons who have been victims of police shakedowns can make reports to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The challenge with this mechanism was highlighted as the reluctance by persons to provide evidence and attend court.
The statement said that the Private Sector was urged to support the Ministry in educating the public that no one is required to pay money to Police Ranks, as this perpetuates corruption.
“The Minister assured the Chamber of his willingness to do his utmost to deliver on the expectations of all sections of society for improvements in security”, the statement said.
