Host of initiatives to enhance public security being implemented by Home Affairs ministry

Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn declared that Government is making significant effort to strengthen public security, to reduce crime and improve police engagement with citizens countrywide.

Benn noted that with the administration’s aggressive move to implement the ‘Increasing the peace in Guyana’ initiative, he said residents of Region Six will also reap the benefits of the initiative. Minister Benn made the revelation during a Cabinet outreach led by President Irfaan Ali in the region on Monday.

Benn stressed that the new approach will bring about major institutional changes through strategic reforms in the police force, increasing safety in communities. “Increasing the peace in Guyana, needs to recognise that we have challenges in respect of poverty, it will recognise the fact that we are not a little island like those in the Caribbean,” Benn declared.

He pointed out that as Guyana moves forward, East- Berbice- Corentyne is expected to receive major development. To this end, Benn stressed that guarding the livelihoods of citizens is of top priority for the government. He expressed satisfaction with the restoration of community policing groups which will add to the improved safety of citizens. “We have community policing groups which I am glad have been rejuvenated and we want of course more information to come to ourselves not only to the police but ourselves in respect to issues relating to crime, violence and drugs,” Benn said.

The home affairs minister noted that to ensure the engagements between the police and citizens are of standards that reflect a developing Guyana, the ministry will be installing audible CCTV cameras at the counter of every police station, to ensure citizens are offered the best policing services. “With the new transition there is a wind of change by the Guyana police force and in the other agencies and as I also said that they have a mandate to be more empathetic, to treat people better. I keep saying that we need people to be treated in a way we want ourselves to be treated or how we want our wife, our daughter, our mother to be treated if they come in contact with the law,” Minister Benn said.

Meanwhile, Benn said that his ministry is working to build three new prison modules at the Lusignan and New Amsterdam prisons. Which will have a safer and modern prison system attached with a school to reduce inmate recidivism.