GUYANA’S SECURITY SECTOR IN 2013

…work progressed on creating a modern security sector amidst challenges

Social and economic progress in a country is greatly hinged on political stability and public safety and security, both of which Guyana has to a large extent. This in itself is, by no stretch of the imagination, a small achievement, since many other jurisdictions in the world are struggling to cope with volatile security issues.

President Donald Ramotar unveils the plaque to the new Police Training Centre

The maintenance of safety and security in Guyana has been a matter of great priority for the PPP/C Administration as it continues to rise above the challenges in this very important sector, amidst constant criticisms. Through the Home Affairs Ministry, which is responsible for the joint services, the Administration has been allocating large amounts of financial resources to be spent on training and adequately equipping security personnel. There is much more to be done and room for improvement on every front. However, the progress that has been made thus far cannot and should not go unnoticed. The security sector, by its very nature, is a very dynamic one and as such, those charged with its responsibility have their tasks cut out in keeping up with such dynamism, especially as it relates to crime trends. For the security sector, the year 2013 was characterised by a good deal of struggle and challenges, particularly from a political standpoint, but despite the detraction, the Home Affairs Ministry forged ahead with its plan to develop and modernise its operations. This year, the ministry received a budgetary allocation of $17.5B, an increase from that of 2012, which was $16.2B and despite threat by the Parliamentary Opposition to slash certain allocations, the sector’s estimates of expenditure were approved in its entirety.

MODERNISATION PLAN In late 2012, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee announced the Security Sector Strategic Plan 2013 – 2017. This strategy has been progressing smoothly and is, in fact, far advanced.

The Strategic Management Department (SMD), comprising a high-level team of 10 civilian professionals, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Force’s strategic plan, was established in May, and has been working closely with the Guyana Police Force.         Meanwhile, 46 civilians were employed as data entry clerks and were stationed at police stations around the country to assist the Force’s computerisation, while approximately 30 ranks were sent abroad between January and May for training in different areas. Implementation of the plan, which was crafted by the UK-based Capita-Symonds Consultancy, will cost approximately $35M annually. It focuses on four specific, but critical areas in the Force, namely administration, succession planning, integrity/probity (professionalism) and public relations and communications. A contract was signed with Capita Symonds in early January valued US$129,750 or approximately G$25M.

Police ranks at the close of a CBSI training course

Ipaid A Bribe Website The launch of the ‘Ipaid A Bribe Guyana’ website is a bold initiative by the Home Affairs Ministry, which will permit citizens to anonymously report their experiences with bribery and corruption within the public service. The site allows the general public to report on the nature, number, pattern, types, locations, frequencies and values of corrupt activities, and is used to promote improved governance systems and procedures, tighten law enforcement and regulations and thereby reduce the scope for corruption in obtaining services from the Government. The information placed on the ipaidabribe.gy website is not meant to name and shame any public official, nor is it intended to be used for criminal prosecution.

HOUSES OF JUSTICE In 2013, the Home Affairs Ministry established 10 Houses of Justice in Regions Two and Three, multi-agency service centers that are geared to address pressing social needs of citizens at the community level, thereby improving access to the public service. The agencies include: the Guyana Police Force, the General Register Office, National Insurance Scheme, Guyana Power and Light Inc., the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and the Community Policing Secretariat.

Police Officers with Commissioner Leroy Brummel and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee at the end of a training course

In Region Three, these facilities are located at the Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Zeelugt Primary School, Best/Klien Pouderoyen NDC, Canal No.1 Health Center, and Toevulgt/Patentia NDC. The Region Two centres are located at: Charity, Dartmouth, Suddie, Aurora, and Kabakaburi.

TRAINING As a matter of policy, training is placed high on the agenda in the security sector. In fact, over 30 percent of the Force’s budget is spent on training, so much so, that the Government of Guyana has invested in a $158.4M Training Centre. This facility is a partnership between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Government under the Citizen Security Programme. Joint services ranks have been exposed to annual training programmes, some of which were designed and conducted by overseas law enforcement agencies. Some of these programmes include: Junior and Senior Officers’ course, Special Prosecutor’s, Drug Investigators, and International Passenger Interdiction Courses. These programmes, many of which are done through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) are aimed at improving the capabilities of ranks so that they effectively work to maintain law and order.

CBSI This is the Caribbean-US partnership that was launched by President Barack Obama at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009. It aims to build capacity within the region’s security, and fulfills a commitment to deepen regional security cooperation. In January 2013, the Governments of Guyana and the United States signed a 2012-2013 Letter of Agreement to modify specific objectives under the CBSI for the provision of funding to the tune of $172M (US $860,000). Under the modified agreement, funding will also go towards Guyana’s capacity to target money laundering and financial crimes, and prosecution of those profiting from criminal activities. This aspect will draw a collective of personnel from the Ministry of Finance and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). In November, Guyana hosted the fourth Meeting of the CBSI Commission. At this forum, the progress made thus far with CBSI projects was reviewed and recommendations were made with regards to areas that require improvement, as well as the overall operations agencies that are tasked with maintaining security throughout the region. The US Government has dedicated more than US$263M to CBSI over the last four years despite its own budgetary constraints, including US $60M that was allocated this year.

SWAT UNIT The Guyana Police Force’s capabilities will be strengthened with the addition of a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit. This initiative will place the Force in a better position to make specialised interventions, thereby, ensuring the maintenance of law and order, and that the prospects of crimes was neutralised. In October, the Ministry of Home Affairs signed a contract with the Emergence Group from Washington for the provision of consultancy services for the establishment of this unit.

COMMUNITY POLICING The community policing system celebrated 37 years of existence in 2013. Guyana at present boasts 252 active Community Policing Groups (CPGs) with a membership of over 4,000. They conduct thousands of patrols in the various communities annually, resulting in numerous arrests and even prosecution. In October, Minister Rohee presented land and water transport means to the value of over $17M to the various policing divisions across the country, to strengthen their operational and response capabilities. Two four-wheel pickups were given to Upper and Lower Corentyne, Region Six, two fibre glass boats to Bartica and Kwakwani, several three-wheelers to Parfait Harmonie, Lodge, Georgetown, and East Coast Demerara, and one All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). CPGs have been playing a key and successful supporting role to the GPF in the fight against criminal activities, especially at the community level.

GUYANA POLICE FORCE Being the foremost crime fighting institution in the country, the GPF is not without its share of challenges. While there are a few officers who have sullied the Force’s image during the course of the year, there are still many who, against all odds, upheld the Force’s motto to serve and protect. The GPF suffered a major blow with the passing of one such principled officer, Assistant Commissioner Derrick Josiah who passed away on December 13, leaving the GPF poorer. Police commissioner Leroy Brumell was sworn in to the post in October, and the force rewarded 1, 663 of its ranks for their dedication and courage, as well as 23 CPGs and 34 of their members. In December, President Donald Ramotar announced a one-month bonus for the joint services in addition to the five percent increase granted in the same month. According to the statistics provided by the Force, an overall four percent increase in serious crimes was recorded as at December 17 with a hike in gun crimes.         A total of 136 murders were recorded compared to 131 in the previous year up to that period. With regards to traffic, there was an increase by one road fatality in comparison to the same period the previous year, with 106 deaths from 98 fatal accidents. The force seized 192 illegal firearms, 20 kilogrammes of cocaine, 555,077 kilogrammes of marijuana and charged 775 people with drug related offences up to December 17.

INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE Recognising the alarming rate at which lives are lost as a result of interpersonal violence, the Government through the Home Affairs Ministry convened a National Conference for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence in November. This forum included the participation of a wide-cross section of stakeholders including law enforcement, the judicial system, faith-based organisations, civil society and several governmental and non-governmental agencies. The involvement of such a diverse grouping is intended to promote inclusivity and ownership in the plans that will be developed to combat this scourge.

LEGISLATION Given the current configuration of the Tenth Parliament, the outcomes of security related legislation remain virtually the same as 2012. The Parliamentary Opposition continues to maintain its non-support for the Home Affairs Minister and as such, matters raised by him in the House were voted down. Some of the Bills that were disallowed include: the Evidence (Amendment) Bill and the Firearm (Amendment) Bill. However, they were subsequently re-tabled in December by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall. The current Firearms Act of Guyana states that trafficking in firearms is not unlawful and as such, the amendments seek to address this lacuna by creating an offence for trafficking. The Evidence (Amendment) Bill on the other hand, seeks to expand the range of documents/reports that can be admitted as evidence. The Government also tabled the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) (Amendment) Bill 2013. It amends section 8 (2) of the  Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act, Cap.10:02, to allow a person who is issued with a traffic ticket for an offence to pay the prescribed penalty to the clerk of the court of any magisterial district regardless of where the offence was committed.