The Guyana Police Force, in partnership with the University of Guyana, yesterday launched the ‘Security Specific Language Programme’ at the Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Road, Georgetown.
Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities at UG, Dr. Roslin Khan, who was present at the ceremony, said that the programme is at the same level that is currently being offered at the University of Guyana, and will focus primarily on three foreign languages: Spanish, Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese.
A release from the police said that while the courses will have the same grammar structure as that is being done at the University, the content and vocabulary are specialized for law enforcement personnel in Guyana.
Dr. Khan further noted that the participants will be assessed throughout the duration of the training and upon completion, they should be able to read, write and speak in the various languages.
Each language course is expected to be eight weeks duration, with participants attending 5 days a week for 3 hours daily and classes will be conducted by Gudelio Tabares Sierra (Spanish), Menga Thomas (Portuguese), and Zhang Peng (Mandarin).
Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’, Calvin Brutus who addressed the participants virtually, highlighted the importance of the language training in the course of core policing functions of safety and security as it relates to ranks who conduct anti-crime patrols, traffic ranks and those at the inquiries office, who are the first line on contact with members of the public.
Brutus, the release said, also referred to the increasing number of persons who speak foreign languages that these ranks come into contact with on a daily basis in Guyana.
