Senior Police officials fan out countrywide to build better relationships with the public

Over the weekend, senior Police officials fanned out across the country to build better relationships with the public.
Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken visited Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) while Commander of Region Four – East Bank Demerara, Denise Griffith hosted a community outreach and Deputy Commissioner of Operations (ag) Ravindradat Budram launched a Police Youth Group in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

On Saturday, the Top Cop met with residents of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), where he addressed a number of their concerns with respect to crime and policing.
During the exercise, Hicken emphasised the need for unity and partnership between the Police and communities, assuring that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is continuously developing its internal capacity to meet the demands of the citizens.
He noted too that the GPF is going through a phase of modernisation and therefore, persons can look forward to improvements at all Police stations countrywide.
Moreover, the Top Cop urged residents to play their part to eradicate crime from their communities.
“You do not need crime in your community. As such, you must do everything in your power to ensure that you mitigate against crime in your community,” Hicken urged.
“If you see something, say something,” he added.
He also contended that citizens must have easy access to the Police Commissioner and all Divisional Commanders.
“This is not a Police Force where you could not have spoken to the Commissioner, this is not a Police Force where you don’t have contact with the Commander…this is a Police Force where the doors are always open and the community is the GPF’s eyes and ears,” Hicken stated.
Meanwhile, after listening to residents’ concerns about crime in the area, the Top Cop instructed that a vehicle be assigned to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station to aid in patrol duties during the evening.
“We want you to enjoy a peaceful community, we want to have communities where everyone can live together and not live in fear of each other,” he explained.
Instructions were also passed on to Divisional Commander Mahendra Siwnarine to establish no less than ten community policing groups within La Parfaite Harmonie. In fact, the Commander was given up to June 17 to ensure this is done.
Moreover, the Top Cop also assured the residents that “no haphazard behaviour” would be accepted from members of the Police Force. He contended that under his leadership, ethical standards will be maintained in the Force.

Region Four outreach
Meanwhile, the EBD Commander on Sunday held a community outreach at Soesdyke where scores of residents attended and several of their concerns were addressed.
One such issue is that of noise nuisance, which, the Police Commander contended, will not be tolerated in her Division.
During the interactive session, Commander Griffith reminded the residents that the community needs the Police just as much as the Police needs them.
She also underscored the importance of having the adults in the community guide the youths down better paths.

Youth Group
This topic was the focus of the outreach held by Deputy Commissioner Budram when he met with residents of Region Two under the Social Crime Prevention Initiative.
Accompanied by Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus and other ranks of the Division, Budhram on Saturday held an outreach at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast.
During this programme, the Deputy Commissioner engaged residents, key stakeholders from Government and nongovernmental organisations, youths and members of the business community.
Budhram also deliberated on the Force’s stance on “Community-based Policing” with emphasis particularly on social crime prevention intervention.
“Youths play a pivotal role in society and is equally important to the development of an economy,” Budhram said. “It is with this in mind that the Guyana Police Force continues to effortlessly protect the youths from crime and criminal elements that may want to present themselves as an opportunity to create juvenile delinquents,” it was explained.
As a result, a Police Youth Group with a membership of 40 youths ranging from the age of 6 to 16, was immediately established and launched at the exercise.
Budhram told the gathering that the youths will be engaged meaningfully on a weekly basis.
Moreover, a number of activities were outlined as part of a “Calendar of Activities” for the new group.