Serious crimes down by 27.0% in Regional Division 4C

– Commander Pareshram lauds effort by ranks

As the Guyana Police Force continues to celebrate and reward its ranks throughout the Divisions countrywide, Regional Police Division 4C is no exception as it hosted its Annual Awards Ceremony on Monday, December 20, 2021, at the Cove & John Police Headquarters, where several ranks were elevated to higher rank and some tangibly rewarded for their contribution, dedication and committed service to the residents across the division.

Commander, Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram, during his address at the ceremony, highlighted that ranks in the Division continue to uphold the Force’s motto, “Service and Protection”, and have performed exceedingly well during the year in keeping with the Force’s mandate. He noted that “despite several challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to instances and issues beyond its control, the ranks remained steadfast and continue to perform their duty with dignity and pride”.

Commander Pareshram noted that a few ranks were affected by COVID-19, but they are all healthy right now and no one has left for the next sphere in life.
“We were rewarded with blessings and criticisms from the public during our successes and operations, both constructive and otherwise. We took the criticisms in good faith and instances where we fell but that did not daunt the commitment of the ranks…we strategised and move onwards with more successes,” Commander Pareshram said.

Enhanced public trust
“We have improved on our relationship with the communities across the division, not only with continued visibility in all categories of the patrol but in partnership with the stakeholders and Community Policing Groups. During the year, team policing and our social crime prevention strategies were pivotal…we have had 280 lectures to drivers, 85 lectures to schools, 92 community visits together with working along with the youths in several communities,” Pareshram said.

He also highlighted the service of the stakeholders, youth leaders, and members of the various Community Policing Groups, station management committees and the Cops and Faith network, and all the volunteers who have contributed positively to Division 4C in 2021.

Successes for Division 4C
While robberies, rape and break and enter continue to be some of the primary offenses in the division, it has seen robust decreases when compared to 2020.
In terms of these crimes, the Division has recorded a decrease of 27.9 per cent in serious crimes comparative to the corresponding period at December 15, 2020; the lowest recorded over a number of years including when Turkeyen and Mahaicony Police Stations were a part of the Division, Commander Pareshram declared.
He noted that twelve firearms were seized, with five from suspects just after the commission of robberies. 64 persons were charged with narcotics-related matters and seizures have been at 22.389 kilograms of cannabis, 840 grams of cocaine, and 80 grams of meth.
The Commander also noted that, at present, the Division has a presence in all communities with a robust patrolling strategy.
“I am thankful that with the recent allocation of pick-ups, cars, and motorcycles, there is some form of mobility at every Police location in the division. Our responses to incidents have been above par and for 2021, we have disrupted nine criminal groups with a focus on intelligence-led policing and monitoring on a daily basis by the Divisional-based management information unit.”
The Division through its continued collaboration with stakeholders has also benefitted from several donations of much-needed equipment such as computers, printers, furniture, and AC units, to assist in the speedy delivery of services to the public. These partnerships have also seen rehabilitation work being done to several Police Stations in the Division such as the Cove and John, Vigilance, Clonbrook, and Beterverwagting Police Stations were enhanced with repairs and maintenance, and fitting of military and paramilitary compounds.

Traffic
While acknowledging the sore issue of traffic and accidents, the Senior Superintendent said, “Traffic has had mixed fortunes in 2021,” while pointing out that the division is tasked with maintaining a presence on the two main road networks — that is the East Coast Highway and the Railway Embankment.

Pareshram said comparative fatalities have decreased by 56 per cent but there are increases in the remaining categories. He noted that the new four-lane highway continues to be a challenge with the majority of road accidents within that division. However, despite the prevailing weather conditions, the ranks continue to maintain a presence which has seen a comparative increase of 58 per cent in cases made,” he noted.
In closing, Commander Pareshram did not stop short in praising his ranks for their exemplary service, boldly saying, “I am proud to say that the efforts made by the ranks contributed significantly to the successes as mentioned above. They were led well by the officers, inspectors, and subordinate officers. Today, despite the fact that each and every single rank deserves to be physically rewarded, the opportunity does not present itself to bring all of them here due to duties, especially with the Christmas policing in progress.”
Pareshram, however, acknowledged all of the ranks who were present to receive awards and thanked all of them for their contribution in providing, maintaining and minimising traffic and crime incidents, together with ensuring that the public was satisfied with a high quality of service delivered.

Awards
Those elevated to higher ranks were:
Woman Constable 21437 Eneka Fraser to Woman Corporal
Constable 20871 Guwraff Bissessar to Corporal
Lance Corporal 19401 Bhachan Singh to Corporal
Constable 22974 Rayshan Tixey to Lance Corporal
Constable 23532 Adrian Murray to Lance Corporal
Constable 24032 Raydon Wilson to Lance Corporal
Assistant Superintendent of Police Jermaine Dufu was awarded Best Cop 2021, while Runner-Up Best Cop was awarded to Constable 23237 Wintz.
Individual awards were also given for the following categories: Secretary of the year – Woman Constable Fraser; Most improved Station Sergeant – Woman Sergeant – Mitchell; Crime Fighter of the year – Corporal Drayton; Most Disciplined: male – Constable Tixey, female – Woman Special Lance Corporal Gulliver; Best Dressed: male – Constable Williamson, female – Woman Constable Doris; Force Driver of the Year – Corporal Persaud; Youth Leader of the Year – Woman Sergeant Halley-Fraser; Most Improved CID Rank: male – Corporal Singh, female – Woman Constable Austin; Most Improved Prosecutor – Corporal Moore; Most Improved Traffic Rank: male – Constable Applesammy, female – Woman Constable James.