Walrond outlines tech-driven crime-fighting strategy

…as Brickdam Police Station reconstruction highlights modernisation efforts

Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has outlined a comprehensive, technology-driven approach to crime reduction, with particular emphasis on domestic violence, illicit firearms, and drug trafficking, as Guyana continues efforts to modernise its law enforcement infrastructure.
Speaking on the state of public safety, Minister Walrond noted that while armed robberies and other serious crimes are declining, domestic violence remains an urgent concern.
“Serious crime, armed robberies, is on the decline; it’s 26 per cent down from last year alone. But domestic crime is still high enough. One person being killed in a domestic crime or being seriously injured is still too much,” Walrond declared.
The Minister pledged to strengthen the Safe City and Safe Country programmes, which use technology to enhance policing and reduce human biases in enforcement. She also stressed the importance of consistency in addressing gun crimes.
“My concern is while we take illegal firearms off the streets, how many of these have been prosecuted? What is the follow-through? People are not going to respond if they’re not seeing full enforcement,” she stated.
Walrond said ongoing discussions with the Commissioner of Police, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), and other agencies aim to determine the scope of illicit firearm circulation and drug trafficking, as well as review how firearm licences are issued. Traffic law enforcement is also being intensified, with over 1000 charges recently laid following a review of ticketing practices.
“The safety of our citizens is everybody’s business. There will be no instance where there is anything to be hidden. We are all working on this together,” she affirmed.
When asked about the presence of drug cartels and the circulation of illegal firearms, Walrond said she is still in active discussions with the relevant agencies to better understand the scale of the problem.
Drawing on her background in the judiciary, she stressed that seizures alone are not enough without proper prosecution.
The Minister said she intends to spend the coming weeks working closely with law enforcement agencies to establish clearer data on prosecutions and the sources of illegal weapons and drugs so that policy can be directed at the root of the problem.

Brickdam Police Station reconstruction progresses
The announcement comes as the Ministry of Home Affairs also reports significant progress on the US$28 million reconstruction of the Brickdam Police Station, which is scheduled for completion by June 2026.
On Wednesday, Minister Waldron also visited the 12-storey concrete, glass, and steel complex, designed to be earthquake-resistant, which will replace the centuries-old wooden structure destroyed by fire more than two years ago. It is being built by R Bassoo & Sons Construction Company in partnership with Qing Jian Group Company, Guyana Incorporated.
Minister Walrond, who assumed office just three days ago, toured several Police stations and met with ranks across departments.
Providing an update during the tour, Ministry of Home Affairs engineering consultant Rawlston Adams reported that key systems were already in place.
“As of today, we are just about 65 per cent completed. The building is enclosed, and we are starting the framing of the walls. We’ve already installed about 90 per cent of the AC ducts and sprinkler systems, along with most of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works. That puts us well ahead of schedule,” Adams explained.
Once completed, the state-of-the-art station will house key departments, including Traffic, Finance, and Impact Base, serving as the new headquarters of the Guyana Police Force.
“This will be the headquarters of the Police force, the Commissioner, senior leadership, and divisional command. All of the services currently offered at Eve Leary will now be accessed here,” Minister Walrond noted.
Following the Brickdam site inspection, Minister Walrond made a stop at the Kitty Police Station, where she interacted with officers and discussed their day-to-day challenges.
She later visited the East La Penitence Police Station, where she met with the officer in charge and held discussions on the welfare of ranks, the condition of the facility, and the support needed to strengthen Police work in the community.
“As you know, as a government, we have been speaking of building a world-class Police force, and this facility is befitting of that vision, where we expect cutting-edge policing, free from bureaucracy and outdated methods,” Walrond said.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Andre Ally confirmed that some existing structures, including lock-up facilities, will be rehabilitated as part of the broader redevelopment.
“What needs to be demolished will be demolished, but we do have other buildings like the lock-ups that will be rehabilitated,” Ally stated.
The Brickdam Police Station project is a major step in modernising Guyana’s law enforcement infrastructure, aligning with the government’s broader vision for a safer, more transparent, and technologically advanced policing system.