Fifty more members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) graduated on Saturday from Gender Based Violence (GBV) training.
A release from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security said that the graduation ceremony took place at the Police Officers’ Training Centre in Kingston in the presence of Minister Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn and Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie.
So far, 75 policemen and women have received their certificates and badges identifying them as COPSQUAD officers. The brainchild of Persaud, the intention is to have at least one officer trained to handle matters of domestic violence at each police station across the country, the release said.
Persaud is at the moment targeting half of the Force to be trained by the end of this year and plans on ensuring that the other half is trained next year.
The training featured role plays which helped the participants better understand what they were learning in theory.
I am pleased to say that … there are many options available for a survivor who encounters gender-based violence or any form of violence that falls under gender based,” Constable Tanesha Johnson said as she addressed the gathering, according to a release from the police force.
“I have learnt a new way to interview a survivor of domestic violence and most definitely I will continue to move in a swift manner to ensure that justice is served and that persons are comfortable,” she added.
Constable Guwraft Bissessar, another beneficiary of the programme said “When I return to my place of work, I will educate the public along with police officers about the different ways and means of dealing with domestic violence and their speedy response to domestic violence,” he said.
