A year after a fleet of vehicles was presented to the Guyana Police Force by the People’s Republic of China, the force carried out an inspection to assess the conditions in which they are being kept.
The inspection was carried out on all the vehicles received across the divisions. This exercise was reportedly carried out simultaneously, across the divisional headquarters and other locations.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan, in a press release, related that a directive was given to officers that on November 6, 2018, all vehicles must be just as clean, efficient and serviceable as when received.
Yesterday, Deputy Com-missioner Maxine Graham, inspected the vehicles assigned to the police headquarters and ‘A’ Division.
Following the inspection, she told reporters that from her observation, the vehicles are being kept in order. However, she said ranks are reminded that the vehicles are a tool for work and should at all times be kept in mint condition.
She further disclosed that from the US$2.6 million worth of vehicles gifted to the force, only one has become non-functional. Graham said that vehicle was involved in a crash at Mahaica. She pointed out that two others that were involved in crashes in Berbice and Linden were repaired and are being used to perform duties.
Graham, who is in charge of operations at the force, went on to say that they will be closely monitoring the use of the vehicles by officers. “I can assure you we will not be waiting another year to have an inspection but schedule one in six months so we can keep close tabs on how the vehicles are used,” she disclosed.
Meanwhile, the vehicles which were allocated to the B Division also reportedly passed yesterday’s inspection, which was carried out at the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam by the officer-in-charge of Traffic, Timothy Williams.
Williams yesterday explained to media operatives gathered that some ten pickups, seven motorcycles and two ATVs were allocated to the division.
According to Williams, every week the vehicles are inspected at the various sub-divisions, so as to ensure that they are kept up to standard. He further explained that all the vehicles, at the end of every month, are required to be brought to the headquarters, where a general inspection is done to ensure that whatever defects have been developed can be identified and fixed immediately.
“They are working well and we are going to ensure that we will maintain these vehicles at this level and standard”, Williams said.
Shortly after arriving in the division in December, 2017, the pickup attached to the Reliance Police Station was involved in an accident along the Canefield, East Canje, Berbice public road. Williams stated that the rank who was driving the vehicle during that accident was disciplined and the vehicle was fixed. “The vehicle is in tip-top shape and working well for us”, he stated.
Williams also stressed that that was the first and only vehicle involved in any accident in the division.
Meanwhile, Acting Commander of B Division, Paul Langevine, in a brief interview with the media, noted that since arriving in the division, he has noticed that all of the stations are in possession of vehicles, which allow ranks to carry out their duties comfortably.
However, Langevine noted that in his opinion, the force can never have too many vehicles, and as such, he stated that donations of vehicles are always welcome.
A report containing the results of the inspection will be compiled and submitted to Langevine, Stabroek News was told yesterday.
China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, handed over 56 pickups, 44 motorcycles, 35 ATVs and 5 motor buses on November 6 last year.
In 2014, the People’s Republic of China had donated some US$60,000 worth of equipment to the force.
