Latest update November 30th, 2024 1:00 AM
Jan 28, 2009 News
The ‘C’ Division Community Policing Groups (CPGs) held their Annual General Meeting last Sunday at the Lusignan Community Centre on the eve of the first anniversary of the Lusignan Massacre.
The meeting attracted representatives of 25 of the 46 groups in the district.
Among the gathering was Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, who delivered the feature address, Richard Bactowar, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, and recently promoted Assistant Commissioner of Police Balram Persaud, Commander of ‘C’ Division.
The Secretary in his report alluded to the achievements, among which was the formation of 10 new groups following the Lusignan Massacre.
There are 46 Community Policing Groups, with a membership of 1,619 members, in the Division.
According to the secretary, 1,438 members benefited from 43 training sessions that were related to fire prevention, leadership, domestic violence, appearance and conduct, station diary, statement writing/statement taking, use of baton and handcuffs, care and custody of prisoners and logging of exhibits.
The CPG members were also trained in initial action at the scene of a crime, procedure to be followed when persons are held with narcotics, some common traffic offences and initial action or the scene of an accident, HIV/AIDS, information gathering and crime prevention tips.
The meeting was informed that members were involved in 7, 043 foot patrols, 796 bicycle patrols, 251 motor cycle patrols and 692 vehicle patrols that resulted in 125 arrests, from which 74 cases were made.
The Chairman in his remarks expressed sincerest gratitude to President Bharrat Jagdeo for his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of communities within Guyana and more particularly in ‘C’ Division after the Lusignan Massacre by allotting $50 million, which provided the groups with vehicles, caps, jerseys, spotlights, handcuffs and two way hand-held radio sets.
These stores enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of community policing operations within the Division.
The Hon. Minister of Home Affairs stated that today the crime situation compared to January-February 2008 is much improved and credit is due to the tremendous efforts made by the Joint Services in ridding the society of the Rondell Rawlins gang and in working to dismantle the criminal enterprise.
He stressed that work is still continuing in this direction.
The Minister pointed out that much has been achieved by Community Policing in Guyana since its establishment 33 years ago.
The Government, he said, is providing more and more resources to CPGs around the country.
He, however, cautioned that with more resources comes more accountability and that CPGs and their wider structures will be called upon to account more and more for their effectiveness in their respective communities.
The Minister called on the meeting to reach out to those villages where CPGs do not exist and seek to establish groups in those areas.
He also challenged the groups represented at the AGM to take concerted action to form Women’s and Youth arms in their Division with a view to widening the activities and influence of the CPGs in the Division.
Divisional Commander Persaud, in installing the 16-man new executive, expressed his gratitude to the groups for the support given to the police of his division and pledged his support in ensuring the improvement of co-operation and respect between the two parties.
Persaud said that the election of members to the various offices was an adequate and good reflection of the representation of the groups throughout the Division.
He urged the groups to increase and improve on their patrols by conforming with the standard operation procedures, thereby ensuring that patrols are properly planned, a police rank is requested to accompany the patrol, the station is informed of the details of the patrol, and that the patrol operates within the planned location.
He requested that members attend training sessions so as to enhance their confidence and capability to execute their functions and responsibilities.
He also challenged the members to encourage persons to join the Guyana Police Force.
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