Police to increase strength by 1500

Cabinet has given approval for an increase in the manpower strength of both the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Fire Service. The announcement was made by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, during his year end briefing last Wednesday. Rohee said that Cabinet gave approval for an increase in the establishment of the Guyana Police Force from 3,410 to 4,956. He stated that this upward revision is in keeping with the demands of GUYANA'S SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED SECURITY ENVIRONMENT in the preservation of law, order and peace. It stems from an increase in population size and the accompanying development of new communities, an increase and frequent occurrences of social-economic activities, significant increases in the number of motor vehicles and the accompanying expansion of the road network and significant opening up of Guyana’s interior regions. But according to a source, the process, which has not yet started, will not be just a routine recruitment exercise. The source said that it was the police administration that had requested the increase. “The Force needs to indicate how many constables, corporals or sergeants it will need. It won’t be just 1500 constables,” the source said. The Guyana Fire Service is to increase its strength by an additional 84 places, bringing the total number on strength to 511. According to Rohee, this increase will provide the Service with the requisite strength to manage the new Fire Stations that were constructed at Bartica, Diamond and Onverwagt. And in keeping with making the fire service more responsive to the needs of the society, a number of training programmes were undertaken in 2014 both at the local and overseas levels. Training at the newly constructed Training School at Leonora commenced in November and currently 94 recruits are undergoing training. Thirty-six ranks benefitted from training in First Aid and Emergency Care and resulting from the close collaboration between the French Guiana Fire Service and the Guyana Fire Service, a French team visited Guyana in June and conducted First Aid and Road Traffic Rescue training for members of the Service. This month, eight members of the Service will be attending a training programme in the United Kingdom to equip them to perform the role of Instructors at the Leonora Training School. The ranks will also undergo specialized Airport Fire and Rescue training. During last year, three Welfare Officers were appointed to the Guyana Fire Service, to provide welfare services to ranks and to develop programmes for the social well-being of the ranks and their families.