Security budget of $27.8B approved

Over $1B was Thursday approved for the construction and rehabilitation of several police
stations countrywide as safety and security of Guyanese remain a front burner for the PPP/C
Administration.
It was disclosed that the money forms part of the $27.8B earmarked for the Home Affairs
Ministry. Defending the budgetary allocation for the sector was Minister, Robeson Benn. Benn
pointed out that part of the $1B caters for the construction and rehabilitation of stations which
began last year, and will be completed by the second quarter of this year.
He said that the stations include Mabaruma at $21M, Ruimveldt at $32M, Providence $36M,
Yarakita, $20.6M, Charity at $2.7M, Imbaimadai at $13M, Kamarang at $14.8M and Kato at
$8.8M. He noted further that stations at Whim and Albion (Region Six) and Parika (Region
Three) are almost completed.
Benn in addressing the new projects for 2022, said that $405M is earmarked for the construction
of the Brickdam Police Station, which was destroyed by fire last year. Benn stressed that a
design for the multi-storey building has been selected. “We have had three conceptual designs of
which we have adopted one. We intend to get along with our engineering group which has been
enhanced by the employment of our own. We intend to work with some consultants in respect of
the structural design, foundation design and issues relating to the reticulation in the building for
fire, water and electricity,” the minister said.
Minister Benn gave insight on several other projects that will commence this year to enhance the
work of the Guyana Police Force. “For regional command operating stations, we will be doing at
Anna Regina, Leonora, Fort Wellington, the central police station and Wismar for $150M. We
will be operating the TSU operational area for $40M, there will be the construction of a floating
ramp for the marine police at Ruimveldt for $12M. We intend to reconstruct the CID building for
$28M,” he said.
He continued, “We will also be doing new living quarters at Eve Leary for $25M, the special
constabulary headquarters will be re-done for 20M, there will be rehabilitation at Baramita for
$20M, Charity for $36M, Rose Hall for $20M, the Brickdam Barracks will be rehabilitated for
$20M, Tuschen for $19M, Dem Amstel will be rehabilitated.” In total, it was noted that the GPF
budgetary allocation for 2022 is $17.5B. Monies were also approved for the Guyana Fire Service
at $2.7B, Guyana Prison Service was allocated $5.2B while the General Register Office and the
Customs Anti-Narcotics at $219M and $524M respectively.