$1B major upgrades, new Police stations in 2022 – Benn

…current revamp works to be ready by mid-year

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has announced that the rehabilitation and expansion works of several Police stations across the country, should wrap up by mid-year.

Opposition parliamentarian, Geeta Chandan-Edmond during Thursday’s Examination of Estimates for Budget 2022, commended the injection of funding for such investments as she requested a status update on the projects.
“We have a long list of Police stations for which works are underway. Some are rolled over. We expect that by the end of the second quarter, that all of these would be at practical completion,” Benn noted.
For the reconstruction of the Ruimveldt Station, $32 million is being spent. Works at various stations are pegged at $21 million for Mabaruma, $36 million at Providence, $20.6 million for Yarakita, $20 million at Baramita, $13 million for Imbaimadai, $14.8 million for Kamarang, $10 million for New Amsterdam, $7.8 million for Kurupung and $8.8 million for Kato.
In 2022, an allocation of $405 million has been set aside for a new Brickdam Police Station. A design has already been finalised, and the Home Affairs Ministry is consulting to determine the structural make-up of the building.
“The Brickdam barracks are under rehabilitation forced on with the issues by the fire for $20 million…In respect to the new Brickdam Police Station, we have made three conceptual designs to which we have adopted one. We intend to get, along with our engineering group, work with some consultants in respect of the structural, foundation design and issues related to the reticulation of the building,” Minister Benn relayed to the House.
Tuschen will get a new Police station at the cost of $19 million and $36 million, respectively.
Works at regional command stations will focus on Anna Regina, Leonora, Fort Wellington, Wismar to the tune of $150 million. Tactical Services Unit will also be upgraded for $40 million while the Special Constabulary headquarters will be redone for $20 million; with $36 million for Bartica and $20 million for Rose Hall.
The construction of living quarters at Port Kaituma has been listed at $686,000 while the senior officers’ living quarters at Eve Leary will be established $11.7 million. Meanwhile, rehabilitative works have been completed at the Parika Police Station.
Government has works in the pipeline to restore the prison structures that were razed by fire, to which Minister Benn outlined their intention of creating a rehabilitative environment. In recent time, he pointed towards lowered rates of recidivism.
“Recidivism in the prisons has been reduced and it will get better now that we move with the new construction at Lusignan, create new conditions and create a rehabilitative environment for our prison systems.”
In the 2022 budget, $75 million has been approved for community policing groups and for the establishment of new groups. Benn pointed out that in the past, these groups were almost dismantled under the former Administration.
“The groups were disbanded. Their equipment was taken away. Their pick-ups, vehicle and means of transport were taken. Their little shotguns were taken away. That is a fact. We had to get new people and members of the community to re-form the groups so that we could resuscitate the system.”
It was reported that of the $4.7 billion allocated to build on the important work and advancement of the justice sector in Guyana this year, $1.3 billion will be expended to support the Judiciary to improve access to justice, especially in previously underserved areas.
To this end, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Vigilance Magistrate’s Courts will be completed in 2022, while two additional Magistrate’s Courts and living quarters along the East Bank of Demerara at Timehri and Friendship, will be advanced. (G12)