Community Police to help in school road safety patrol

A few months after the Education Ministry announced that it would be enhancing the Road Safety Patrols Programme in schools across the country, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) made the move to train community Police ranks to help in the school road patrols.
The training exercise was conducted on Monday by Divisional Traffic Inspector of Regional Division 4C Inspector M Craig. The ranks were taught both theory and practical exercises, in traffic direction at the Divisional Headquarters, Cove and John Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

During the session, all Neighbourhood Policing Ranks from the Division were trained on how to command and control pedestrian crossings, how to gain drivers’ attention by pointing in their direction, proper signals, and hand movements.
The practical aspect of the training was done on the Cove and John Public Road, ECD.
The training was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the community-based ranks, who have commenced patrols around schools in their respective districts and who would assist in the directions of Schools Road Safety Patrols, which the Division intends to resuscitate.
Two months ago, Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson met with Assistant Chief Education Officer for Health and Family Life Education (ACEO-HFLE), Carol Benn and other representatives from the unit along with representatives from the National Road Safety Council and the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department, to discuss a road safety plan of action.
During the meeting, the Chief Education Officer stated that it was important for students to be equipped with the knowledge on how to properly utilise roadways.
With the recent expansion of Mandela Avenue and to ensure students use the roadway correctly, students at the North Ruimveldt and East Ruimveldt Secondary Schools have already been sensitised, with 15 students of each school a part of the Road Safety Patrols. (G9)