By Delvon McEwan
Fitness among local police should not be much of a concern anymore, at least for those in Georgetown and surrounding areas as Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday commissioned the 27 million dollars Seelall Persaud Fitness Centre in the compound of the Felix Austin Police College, EveLeary.
According to Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud the objective of the facility is to improve the health and wellbeing of the persons that use it as well as to boost the morale of lawmen.
“In 2014 the Force’s management team, having considered that morale in the Force was extremely low, they decided on a range of initiatives to rebuild morale in the Force. The fitness centre was one of those initiatives dating back to 2014 that was realized at its commissioning yesterday,” detailed the Commissioner.
In addition the Commissioner stated that the completion of the facility was only possible because of the support of successive governments-the previous and current.
The driving force behind the initiative was the Finance Officer and Assistant Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, who recognized the need for such a facility to ensure that lawmen are at all times fit.
According to Hoppie the total cost of the project is $27,279,579. However, the contract was initially signed in December 2014 to the tune of $21,064,597 and executed by contractors Navin and Sons Construction.
Building commenced in 2015 and concluded in the said year according to the Finance Officer.
The following is the breakdown of the contract; Preliminary works $361,000, Excavating $795,000, Super Structure work $12,114,405, plumbing, construction of sauna and acquisition of pumps $2,881,692, Electrical works including installation of AC units $2,369,350, painting and finishing touches $2,543,150 and further $6,215,000 was allocated in the 2016 budget to equip the fitness centre.
Minister Ramjattan said the facilities that are going to be offered to the police force are going to be expanding because the government feels, that indeed, for the happiness of Guyana and its country men there will require good, competent, healthy, fit policemen.
He added that is important for people to understand the need for a police force that is going to execute its function that it be fit. Subsequently, he thanked all who were a part of the organization and those who administered the initiative up until its (completion) inauguration yesterday.
The fitness centre is open to all members of the Guyana Police Force as well as all retired members.
Those who have been dismissed from the Force or resign at an early time will not benefit from the centre.
