“Reset”, “rethink” services delivery for nation’s benefit – new Home Affairs Minister tells HODs

Minister Oneidge Walrond officially assumed leadership of the Home Affairs Ministry on Monday, following a formal handover by Senior Advisor in Home Affairs and Natural Resources and former Minister, Robeson Benn.
Minister Walrond convened her first meeting with the Ministry’s Heads of Department on Monday in the Boardroom, where she was welcomed by senior officials and staff. She emphasised the importance of collaborative leadership and called for open dialogue on both challenges and solutions within the Ministry.

“This is an opportunity for a reset, a rethink of how we deliver services to our citizens in a growing country. I want to hear from each of you, not only about the challenges but also about the solutions, so that together we can be better, do better, and ensure our nation benefits,” Walrond said. She also highlighted her legal and judicial experience, particularly in juvenile justice, as an asset in shaping the Ministry’s policy direction.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary (PS) Andre Ally extended a welcome on behalf of the Ministry’s staff, noting the team’s readiness to work under the new leadership. “Minister, you have before you a very talented and diverse team. We do face many challenges, but we also have solutions. With your leadership, and the support of Senior Advisor Mr Benn, I am confident that we will be able to achieve our mandate. We are fully behind you and committed to progress,” Ally said. In the symbolic handover, Robeson Benn commended the Ministry’s leadership team and expressed his support for Minister Walrond. “We have set a strong foundation, and I am confident that with continued synergy across agencies, the Ministry will further enhance its delivery of security and public service,” he stated. The Home Affairs Ministry oversees several key agencies, including the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), General Register Office (GRO), Juvenile Justice Department, Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, National Community Policing of Guyana, and Immigration Support Services.

The handover ceremony included a performance by the GPF Band, which played My Guyana (My Guyana Eldorado) by F.P. Loncke and I Am a Guyanese by Adrian Dutchin, adding a note of patriotic pride to the proceedings.