THE Ministry of Home Affairs is set to host the National Community Policing Organisation’s annual general meeting in February, an event that will see the election of a new National Community Policing Executive Committee. Subsequently, the Community Police Divisional Meeting is expected to be held where new divisional executives will be elected.With the election of these new bodies, it is expected that a fresh impetus will be given to Community Policing across the country.
At present, there are 252 Community Policing Groups (CPGs) across the country, with a membership of 3,402.
This year, the Home Affairs Ministry will be taking yet another initiative, in its thrust to create safe neighbourhoods, with the establishment of Houses of Justice in 10 communities in Regions 2 and 3. These communities include Good Hope, Onderneeming to Perseverance, Lima to Reliance, Charity, and Wakapau in Region 2, and Patentia, Canal No.1, Klien/ Pouderoyen, Zeelugt, and Parika in Region 3.
An advertisement for the recruitment of a Coordinator for the Houses of Justice has already been placed in the local media inviting suitable applications.
This initiative will result in greater participation of ordinary citizens in support of the ministry’s efforts and greater involvement in public safety and security issues.
Houses of Justice are multi-agency service centres that will address pressing social and safety needs of citizens at the community level. They are designed to improve access to public services, including public safety, and will be located within the communities.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, at his recent press conference, said that this initiative will introduce a novel approach to addressing citizens’ individual safety concerns, and conflict resolution, and will, to a large extent, eliminate the frustration of “the royal runaround” in accessing public services.
In the initial phase, it is envisioned that staff from the General Register Office (GRO), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Community Policing Volunteers will be rendering services and advice to members of the communities where the facilities are located. (GINA)