GPF inks partnership agreement with Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that will see the two entities partnering and working closely together in building capacity and creating an enabling environment to aid in the provision of quality service to the populace in Berbice, and Guyana in general.

The agreement was signed at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce office, Rose Hall, Berbice, by Deputy Commissioner “Administration” (ag), Calvin Brutus and CCCC’s President Mohamed Raffik, Adrian Anamayah and Davenand Sawh.
The five-year MoA will also see the CCCC supporting the GPF in strengthening capacity and human development.
Acting Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken, during his brief remarks, noted that signing the agreement will reinforce the collaboration and working relationship between the two organisations.

Vice President of the CCCC, Imran Hamid, past Presidents Adrian Anamayah, Poonai Bhigroog; and other members Devanan Sawh, Satesh Ramnarine, and Chris Jagdeo were also present at the signing ceremony where they all commended Hicken and his team, and expressed some concerns and offered suggestions.
Several other Police and community-related issues of mutual concern were raised during the cordial meeting.
Raffik lauded Hicken for being the first-ever Commissioner of Police to visit and meet with the CCCC executives at its location in Rose Hall. He also commended the acting Commissioner for being brave enough to talk about ethnicity and ethnic diversity in the Force.
Hicken had earlier alluded to the fact that public and private partnership is important and necessary in contemporary policing and the overall success of the Force. He spoke of the GPF’s strategic plan and vision for the Force and also touched on issues like pushing for ethnic diversity in the Force, and spatial and temporal analysis.
He also noted that noise pollution is a very serious social problem in society and people need to be cognisant of this and abide by the law.
Hicken said an important aspect of GPF’s strategy going forward is ensuring that there is a balance between crime prevention and detection, with more focus being on prevention.
He further noted that cohesiveness and SMART policing is important in moving the Force forward, and away from quantitative to qualitative operations.
The acting Top Cop also assured that committed efforts will be made by his admin team to ensure that there is a more conducive environment for the Police to work in, and for greater collaboration between the Police and the public.
“This new vision for the Guyana Police Force will see less confrontation and more partnerships and healing,” Hicken stated.
He posited that there is a culture where Police would swarm a community when there are acts of crime but he wants the Police to go into the communities with the same speed when there is peace and tranquillity.
The Top Cop said Police need to reach out and interact with residents as this is important in building trust and strengthening the bonds of friendship and partnership between the Police and the public.
Hicken also made it clear that unprofessionalism would not be condoned in the Force.
Members of the Police Top Brass — Deputy Commissioner “Administration” (ag) Calvin Brutus; Deputy Commissioner “Operations”, Ravindradat Budhram, and Head of Special Branch Errol Watts, also made brief presentations.