Police conduct outreaches on crime, violence, traffic offences in Regions 7, 8

With the goal of fostering a better relationship with members of the public, the Guyana Police Force is conducting a series of community outreaches across the country, targeting specific areas such as crime, violence and traffic offences.
These exercises were carried out over the past few days in several Policing Divisions across the country. These outreaches are a direct mandate from Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, with the aim of strengthening public confidence in the Force.
In Regional Division Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), a “walkabout” was conducted in the Karrau Village, Lower Mazaruni, last week by several ranks of the Bartica Police Station.

The Police team was headed by Sergeant Mentis and comprised D/W/Cpl Sealey, D/Cpl Caines and W/Cpl Bamfield.
Then on Saturday, Sergeant Mentis led a team of ranks from the Bartica Police Station on a “community outreach” at Itaballi Landing, Cuyuni River. During the exercise, the ranks met with residents and business personnel from the community who were invited to voice their concerns regarding crime and violence within their community.
Several concerns were raised, including the prevalence of drug use in the community by adults and underage children as well as vehicle operators using the main road in a reckless manner.
As a result, the Police team held a meeting with several vehicle operators where they were encouraged to use the road more cautiously and safely.
Persons also expressed their satisfaction with the service that the Police ranks are providing in the area.

Traffic sensitisation
Meanwhile, in Regional Division Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Lance Corporal Singh from the region’s Traffic Department conducted a Traffic Sensitisation Exercise a few days ago around the township of Mahdia as part of the awareness to educate the owners of bars, night clubs and restaurants, as well as members of the public, about the recent amendment of the law.
Liquor Licence holders have been warned that they will soon face the brunt of Guyana’s law enforcement if they continue to flout provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022.

The principal objectives of the Amendment Act are to, among other things, create a mechanism for licence holders to be more accountable by imposing obligations that require them to play a more active role in the prevention of drinking and driving.
Bar owners who are not in compliance with their obligations under the Amendment Act will be charged and prosecuted.
Among the important sections of the Amendment Act is Section 54A of the Principal Act. This new section imposes a duty upon licence owners or their servants to verify the age of a person before employing such person, selling any intoxicating liquor to them, or allowing them into any bar on the licensed premises.
Section 54 of the Principal Act was amended to expand licence holders’ existing obligations not to permit drunkenness on the licensed premises and creates new obligations which require the licence holder to discourage drinking and driving.
Some of the obligations imposed on the licence holder include: Not permitting drunkenness or any violent, quarrelsome, or riotous conduct to take place on his premises; Not to sell, give or barter intoxicating liquor to a drunken person; Not to allow another person [for example an employee or servant] to sell, give, or barter intoxicating liquor to a drunken person; Not to sell, give or barter intoxicating liquor to a person he knows is likely to leave the premises by driving unless that person has identified another person to be the designated driver of the motor vehicle; Not to sell, give, or barter intoxicating liquor to any person identified as a designated driver; To inform the nearest Police station and request their immediate assistance in cases where he knows that a drunken person is attempting to drive or is in charge of a motor vehicle on the road or other public place; Post signs that discourage drinking and driving at conspicuous places on the licensed premises; and to ensure that announcements are made at regular intervals on the premises that persons should not drink and drive.
Additionally, Section 54 has also been amended to increase the fines for breach of these obligations by the licence holder to G$100,000 for the first offence, and to G$200,000 for a second offence.
Meanwhile, Section 56 of the Principal Act was amended to now make it mandatory for a licence holder refuse to admit any person who is drunk, violent, quarrelsome, or disorderly into his licensed premises. This section has also been amended to increase the fines to be paid for breach of this provision to G$100,000. (G8)