Sweeping reforms coming to Police, other joint services in 2025 – VP

…automation, anti-corruption measures, high-tech upgrades expected

A number of reforms are coming to disciplined services under the Home Affairs Minsitry, including the Guyana Police Force (GPF), reforms the government is looking to roll out by August 2025.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo rejected calls from some quarters for a complete overhaul of the GPF and for foreigners to be brought in to replace the leadership of the force, amid current controversies surrounding Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus.
He noted that such steps are unnecessary, particularly as the government is already in the process of rolling out reforms. One such reform is a plan to automate the functionalities of the GPF, as well as other disciplined services.
“We have a project that we’re hoping by next year. I can tell you what the key elements are generally. The next project is to automate all the functions of the agencies that come under Home Affairs,” Jagdeo said.
“So, this will also cut down on corruption, but also make things easier to process. So, when verified against other databases, will ensure that we have greater scrutiny and we’ll be able to see over criminals. And we’ll be able to solve crime faster.”
Automation will touch even the General Register Office (GRO), which will see a database being created with a portal, enabling information on births, deaths and marriages to be accessed.
“In the police force itself it is case management, so you would have it automated and accessible to police stations across the country. A system of better case management. It is records for firearm licenses, tint permits, whole range of those things that sometimes we don’t have records and we can’t cross reference them,” Jagdeo said.
“Almost all the functions under the police force where you have to interact with police. You’ll have an easier system to work with there. Then in the prison system, the same thing will happen. Better management of the prisons and also a database of people. How many on remand, the time on remand, all of that for better case management. And see who the people are, their biometrics. Also track people around the country easier, if they have records.”

Systems upgrade
In a similar fashion, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will also get a systems upgrade. Jagdeo was hopeful that by August 2025, alot of those systems could be rolled out. Part of the government’s reforms include the smart country project, which has seen over 600 cameras already being mounted across the country.
“We already have the command centres under the police, in three regions. In region three, six and four. Four is the headquarters. These are the three most populous regions, so we started with these. And we intend to expand to other regions.”
“But right now, as we’re sitting here, there are a number of people in these regions sitting in front of the cameras, watching what’s going on. Behind the scene but they’re watching what’s going on, to see if there are transgressions. That was not there. APNU, they started a couple of cameras around the city. We expanded it.”

Prosecution
On the matter of the quality of police prosecution, Jagdeo explained that work is being done to reform this as well. He explained that based on an update he was provided from the Attorney General Chambers, alot of work has been done by the state to enhance the efficiency of their prosecutorial abilities.
“We’ve trained over 75 LLB graduates in a special prosecutors’ programme, who are now part of the prosecutorial arm of the state. Prosecuting in magistrates’ courts across the country, as well as police officers. This came out of the Attorney General’s chambers.”
“We’ve passed a number of legislations to speed up criminal trials in the magisrtates court, including abolition of preliminary inquiries and replacing same with paper commitals. This will allow magistrates to spend more time in dealing with criminal trials.”
Other initiatives have included partnering with School of the Nations to give special training to police prosecutors. Additionally, law enforcement agencies such as the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) have been hiring lawyers to prosecute their cases, rather than relying on the police.
Jagdeo further reminded that a Bail Act was passed in 2022, while the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has introduced a prosecutorial code to regulate the discretion to grant or refuse bail. Sentencing guidelines were also prepared and are currently before the judiciary for review.

Digitisation
As part of its digitisation programme, the Guyana Government is also moving to implement an automated border management system in the coming months, which will allow persons entering the country to fill out customs and immigration forms online.
Additionally, a new electronic card will be issued to Guyanese residents for the conduct of a wide array of transactions as well as to monitor the issuance of work permits in the country. (G3)