GPF recruits lobby for full decentralisation of training colleges

…say training expenses unaffordable

New recruits of the Guyana Police Force have called for the decentralisation of the training college into all regions across the country. This call came after some of the recruits would have expressed difficulties in affording their travelling expenses coupled with the items that are required for training.

Currently, there are three Police Training Colleges in Guyana. Apart from the Felix Austin Police College at Eve Leary, Georgetown, the other two are Felix Austin Police College B which is located in Adventure, Berbice, and Richard Faikall Police College in Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
Just recently a number of recruits would have expressed that their dreams of joining the Guyana Police Force were affected after they were unable to afford the list of items that was provided by the Force for its training.
As such, Deputy Commissioner of Police (ag) Calvin Brutus in social media post on Wednesday, said that the GPF would have reached out to persons outside of Georgetown, to discuss the challenges associated with travelling to the city.
“… the challenges associated with travelling to Georgetown have not gone unnoticed by the Force administration,” he said.
The Guyana Police Force had previously provided a list to new recruits on the items they would need going into the training school.
In this light, the Deputy Commissioner said he is aware that there are many of the recruits that would be coming for their first job, and may not have ready access to finance.
“This, therefore, would remove that burden and make the process more simplified as many have opted out of the training because of the instances where they could not find those items. Now, those items will be provided to the recruits by the Police Force,” he explained.
Another relief measure to those entering the Force is a collaboration between the GPF, Home Affairs Ministry and Health Ministry to fast-track the medical that applicants are required to have as part of the application process.
“I communicated to the applicants that it is the view of the Guyana Police Force that we should try as far as applicable to have new recruits train at the Police Training School closest to where they live. This is to facilitate easy access to recruits by their families who may want to check on their welfare while they are in training.”
Brutus further added that recruits can, however, indicate if they wish to have their training at a specific training school and where applicable, those requests would be granted.
The Police Training College facilitates a number of training programmes for Police ranks and civilians. The recruit’s initial training is conducted over an average period of six months, and recruits are taught various programmes which include human rights, anger management, communication, computer training, self-defence, English, Spanish, first aid, and basic policing in the different stages.
They are also required to attend the mortuary and court to witness cases and participate in a live firing exercise at the Timehri Rifle Range. At the completion of their training, a gradation parade is kept for the ranks who would be equipped with basic knowledge to work in any department in the Guyana Police Force.
This is the first recruitment exercise for the Police Force since 2019 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused the Force to cancel its recruitment initiatives.
While this would have affected numbers, the Police Force had said that it was using this time to examine and implement a system that will boost the quality of individuals being allowed to enter the law enforcement entity. (G9)