Police’s ability to handle vulnerable groups lifted with $73M US-funded project

Emphasising that unprofessionalism damages the administration of the Guyana Police Force and service to the people, a US-funded $73 million project has been launched to enhance response to vulnerable populations.
The United States Embassy on Tuesday hosted the launch of the Strengthening Guyana Police Force Training to Improve Responses to Vulnerable Populations project, implemented by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF).

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch explained that the US$369,000 project enhances domestic and regional security through transparent delivery of inclusive services.
“The United States’ commitment to security assistance and human rights in Guyana is a key pillar of our foreign policy through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. CBSI is a shared regional security partnership, the United States has invested nearly $1 billion in Caribbean security since 2010. Through CBSI, the United States provides training and capacity building to help Guyana as law enforcement maintain the highest levels of professionalism,” Ambassador Lynch underscored.
Over the years, Guyanese law enforcement officers have benefitted from training at the International Law Enforcement Academy, gaining exposure to new policing skills. She noted that Public Servants have returned to immediately implement these practices in their communities.
The aim is to decrease dangerous encounters with vulnerable groups, such as youth, women, as well as migrants; and improve the GPS’ ability to interact with these groups.
“There’s always more to be done, as we know; and security professionals in every country in the world will tell you that citizen security is a priority that needs constant attention, but it’s also a challenge that is certainly not unique to go on or anywhere else. This project is one way we are working to support Guyana’s efforts to successfully handle new challenges, just as police forces in the United States are wrestling with similar issues and updating their own training,” the diplomat stated.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn expressed that the Police Force still subsumes under the operation of a colonial one, citing a need for more empathy and tactics to support the country’s developmental trajectory.
“The question of violence against women – domestic violence; question of children, trafficking and courses and so on, are issues which impact most the most vulnerable persons. They are most impacted either as victims, but also those perpetrators, because sometimes they feed off of each other in terms of relationships and the dynamics in the communities.
“We have our oil and gas development. We have new challenges in transnational crimes, drugs, guns, trafficking in persons, smuggling, and all other things which people are aware of, but we still have a great deal of poverty to overcome. The only way we can assure peace in our country is to have law enforcement and other related agencies to up their game,” Benn expressed.

Misconduct, unprofessionalism
He reminded that when there are cases of misconduct or unprofessionalism, the Force is significantly affected in the delivery of justice.
“There are mostly good Police, but the problem is when there is misbehaviour, recklessness, unprofessional conduct, it hurts everyone and it hurts the development of the Police administration and quality of service to the people.”
The Minister expressed that Amerindians live the most precarious lives in Guyana, where vulnerability in relation to crime and development are experiences. However, when law enforcement engages from the coastland, there is a disconnect. As a result, 300 Indigenous persons graduated a few days ago, and will be integrated into the Force.
Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus stated that the Guyana Police Force is guided by legislation, standing orders, standard operation procedures, and the overarching direction of their Strategic Plan.
However, he noted that there is a need for inclusion of programmes for contemporary law enforcement duties. Some of the groups which need attention include the LGBTQ community; Indigenous people; women; children; persons with mental health issues, among others.
Brutus detailed, “We looked at the training curriculum used for many decades and came to the realisation that there is much need for a revision and programmes that touch on contemporary law enforcement duties, emotional intelligence, handling and treating with vulnerable groups, which were not getting the priority as it should.”
To begin the project, PADF will work with the GPF in reviewing current training and standing orders specifically for vulnerable populations, and analyze standards and procedures regarding the use and response to violent and nonviolent crimes, de-escalation tactics, tactics to deal specifically in Guyanese communities.