Pres Ali lauds GPF’s ‘Do The Right Thing’ campaign

…commends stern approach in promoting community education

With heightened awareness of safety measures being promoted through the ‘Do the Right Thing’ road safety initiative spearheaded by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, President Dr Irfaan Ali has lauded the efforts behind this impactful initiative while calling for more work from officers to sensitize students.
Guyana’s road safety campaign, ‘Do the Right Thing’, aimed at promoting safer driving and responsible road use, was launched on November 1, 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force; and
thousands have already been sensitized about this groundbreaking initiative.
President Ali has praised the campaign, highlighting its significant impact and the positive results it has achieved so far.

“I want to commend Minister Benn for his stern approach in promoting community education. ‘Do the Right Thing’ is a campaign that reaches every citizen, so there is a huge public education and public campaign around this theme, which he is championing and leading with the Commissioner and the Guyana Police Force,” the President has said.
In an attempt to increase the benefits of the campaign, the President emphasized that the initiative needs the support of officer ranks in sensitizing school pupils.
“I know that there is a strong focus in the school system and education system now, and I would like to see greater energy from all our officers, the commanders for the different divisions, in taking this initiative into the school system. If you are able to win the battle to hold our next generation of children close to us; understanding their values, understanding what is expected of them, and bringing them out of all the influences that can destroy them now and in the future…,” he detailed.
From the Head of State’s view, if this battle succeeds, it would produce citizens who would also serve as key citizens of the country, upholding its laws, and by extension its assets, which would ultimately lead to not having to deal with fighting, and dealing with societal issues in the future.
The Head of State has also highlighted that it is important to capitalize on this, because students have an ability to grasp information quickly at this point in their lives.
The Head of State also declared this is strong policing, where the next generation of Guyanese is being brought up as persons who are willing to collectively fight against every evil in Guyana’s society. He mentioned, too, that this is proactive policing that would give Guyana long-term victory and long-term rewards.
This, he added, must be something conceptualized and understood, as it is a matter that every society is grappling with today.
“These are the points from looking at the most recent headlines about, you know, accountability in the Police Force, the level of force that is used in enforcement. It’s here, it’s there, it’s regional, and this is a big debate on the level of force.
So, it’s important that we win at this stage of their development. It is important that we win when they are in this phase of influence, when they are going through this phase of influence; from 9 to 13 years old, when they are absorbing everything. That is the time we have to get into their system, get into their heads, get into their thought process, so that they understand the society, the world that they are growing up in; and they understand the values, attributes and life skills that are necessary to make them successful,” he detailed.