Justice Education Society donates equipment to GPF

…support aims to strengthen response to sexual, gender-based violence

The Justice Education Society (JES) of British Columbia, in partnership with the Canadian High Commission, has handed over several essential items to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) during a simple but significant ceremony held in the Commissioner’s Conference Room at Police Headquarters in Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The donation, made under JES’ “Strengthening Justice for Women, Girls, and Indigenous Peoples in Guyana” project, included four computers with printers, three surveillance cameras for interview rooms, six fixed wireless telephones for remote locations without landlines, eight medical transport coolers for bio-medical evidence, and an air corrosivity monitor for the GPF’s forensic laboratory.
These items are intended to bolster the GPF’s efforts to respond more effectively to cases involving sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), a key focus of JES’ ongoing work in Guyana.
In delivering the welcome remarks, Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’, Ravindradat Budhram, noting the significance of such partnerships in advancing the capabilities of the Police Force, commended JES and the Canadian High Commission for their continued commitment to improving justice and safety mechanisms in Guyana.

JES Project Director and Country Representative, Lisa Thompson, in providing an overview of the initiative,
lauded GPF’s collaboration, which she said enabled the project to exceed its target outreach of 500 individuals, and ultimately reached more than 800 people across communities.

Enduring partnership
Adam Loyer, Head of Development Cooperation at the Canadian High Commission in Guyana, has meanwhile praised the enduring partnership between Canada and the GPF, and underscored the importance of proper training in law enforcement.
He commended the GPF for effectively utilising Canadian support to enhance logistics, training and operations, all at no cost to the local force.
Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, in brief remarks, reaffirmed the GPF’s commitment to modernisation and capacity-building, and emphasised the Force’s push to ensure computer literacy among all officers and the move to centralise operations across regional divisions.
Assuring that the donated equipment would be maintained and used as intended, Hicken noted that the Force is making progress that is aligned with the six pillars of its strategic plan.
On behalf of the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Hicken expressed appreciation for the support received from JES and the Canadian High Commission.
The event was attended by several senior officers, including Senior Superintendents Jermaine Johnson, Dr Nicola Kendall, Bharrat Persaud, and Sonia Herbert, who serves as Director of the GPF’s Academy.