The handing over of the accreditation by Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council, Dr Marcel Hutson
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Academy was on Friday officially accredited by the National Accreditation Council (NAC), thus clearing the way for enhanced training for Police officers.
At the handing over ceremony held at the Officers’ Training Centre on Camp Street, Georgetown, the Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council, Dr Marcel Hutson noted that the GPF has moved beyond registration into the world of accreditation, which speaks to another level of education delivery.
“The Guyana Police Force is the first public entity to attain this status, and they should serve as a catalyst for change for others involved in education delivery,” Hutson said.
The accreditation means that ranks will also be recognised regionally and internationally.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police ‘Admin,’ Calvin Brutus in his remarks, noted that the accreditation marks a significant milestone in the Force’s journey towards excellence in law enforcement education and training.
Providing further context on what it took for this achievement to be realised, Brutus noted that the process began on September 22, 2022, when the GPF received the Certificate of Registration, a crucial step in its pursuit of excellence. This, he said, laid the foundation for the rigorous process that has led the Force to this achievement.
“This strategic pillar serves as a cornerstone of our commitment to the continuous improvement and development of our officers and recruits. It emphasises the importance of investing in our human capital to ensure the highest levels of professionalism and competence within our ranks,” Brutus stated.
He further noted that as the academy is beginning its transformation, it will be elevating the Force’s entrance examination standards from a primary education level to a post-secondary education level. Simultaneously, a stringent marking and grading system was introduced for all programmes available at the academy.
“We pledge to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and competence in law enforcement. We are committed to serving our nation with dedication, integrity, and a sense of duty that befits this accreditation,” Brutus noted.
Meanwhile, the Force’s Training Officer, Woman Superintendent Nicola Kendall, during her remarks, highlighted the magnitude of this achievement for the Force.
“This event marks a pivotal moment in the journey of the modernisation process of the Guyana Police Force, a journey characterised by relentless dedication, unwavering commitment, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence in education. Today, we come together to celebrate the culmination of months of hard work, dedication, and the pursuit of academic excellence,” she expressed.
The accreditation was granted for a period of five years, effective August 25, 2023.
Only a year ago, the Guyana Police Force renamed its Academy from the Felix Austin Police College to the Guyana Police Force Academy. This was a decision that stemmed from the five-year agreement that was signed between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the University of Guyana (UG).
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed in October 2021 between then Senior Superintendent of Police Calvin Brutus, now Assistant Commissioner, and UG’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Paloma Mohamed-Martin.
Brutus had said that the MoA was birthed from the need for the Force to develop modules for ranks to ensure that the GPF delivers on its mandate in keeping with contemporary best practices for the Police in Guyana.
The MoA catered to a range of programmes to be developed, with others being refined.
Brutus further explained that part of it had to do with the accreditation of the Police Training College, which he noted “is just by name… the substance and standard [are] not there”.
