Police re-commission Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’

Mar 28, 2009 News

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ADVENTURE, CORENTYNE – After years of disuse, The Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’, sited at Adventure on the Corentyne, was re-commissioned amidst pomp and ceremony, yesterday.
The facility is expected to contribute towards increasing manpower in the Guyana Police Force, which is said to be some 800 short. Ranks would not only be recruited and trained at the college in Berbice but would remain to serve within the Division.
The college was brought back in shape at a cost of some of $10 million and highlighted what cooperation and community involvement can lead to.
The motivating force behind the restoration of the college was former Commander of Division ‘B’ of the Guyana Police Force, Clinton Conway, who now serves as Assistant Commissioner Training. Conway was the first Commandant of the college and one of the rehabilitated buildings was named in his honour – Clinton Conway Block. It houses the dormitory and classroom.

Mid-February 2008, Mr. Clinton Conway, during a meeting with the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, spoke, inter alia, of the need for more police ranks in the force, the purpose of the Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ and of the importance of the public and police working in tandem.
In the light of concerns raised by Chamber members about the fear of crime and security measures needed in Berbice, Mr. Conway then threw out a challenge; the Chamber members took him up and pledged $100,000 to assist in the resurrection of the college.
Actual rehabilitation work on the academy commenced last September and was completed in December, but by this time Mr. Conway had already left the division.
Yesterday, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee re-commissioned the facility under the theme, ‘Training towards greater efficiency and effectiveness.’

He called on all to embrace the current recruitment drive of the Guyana Police Force. He expressed the hope that Berbicians and those close by would make maximum use of the facility and that the training programmes offered would duplicate those offered in Georgetown.
With the ever-changing times, training must be tailored to suit the trend.
Addressing the issue of neighbourhood police ranks and community policing group members, the Minister said that the appropriate training could assist in producing a better quality of service and help them to better understand the functions they are expected to carry out.
Minister Rohee congratulated the Central Corentyne Chamber and other stakeholders for their contribution towards the realisation of the project, said that those at the Richard Fical Police College at Suddie Essequibo can copy the success story of the rehabilitation of the Berbice College.
He noted that the upward mobility of the college now rests on the shoulders of the present Commander, George Alexander Vyphuis.

Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, reflected that when the Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ was established, he was the personal assistant to the then Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis.
He lauded the efforts of those involved. Among those singled out were Assistant Commissioner Clinton Conway for his initiative and drive and the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioner Greene suggested that the college could lead by being self-sufficient in terms of agriculture by using the extensive land available in the compound. He announced that the Guyana Police Force would be handing over some $400,000 to the college as well as a vehicle and a freezer.

Assistant Commissioner, Training, Clinton Conway, said that the drive to see college back in operation, saw himself and members of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce making house to house visits, in some cases to secure funds.
The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce funded the renovation of one dormitory, constructed a kitchen and painted both structures. It also furnished the dormitory and provided the necessary paraphernalia for water supply in the compound.

Mr. Conway was also instrumental in getting DIPCON to play a part in the restoration. Later, the Region Six Administration got on board. DIPCON resurfaced the training tarmac at a cost of US$10,000 and the Regional Administration funded the repairs to another building.
Commander Lakeram continued what Mr. Conway started, and the present Commander of Division ‘B’ Assistant Commissioner George Alexander Vyphuis, took the truncheon to the finish line.
Some 14 recruits have already been sworn in and the applications of 24 others are now being processed.
Commander of Division ‘B’ of the Guyana Police Force, George Alexander Vyphuis, in his presentation, noted that the Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ ceased operation in 2003.

With the importance of training in mind, Mr. Vyphuis appealed to Government for funds to complete another building at the college. But Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee pointed to the fact that some $145 million was allocated in this year’s budget for the rehabilitation of buildings belonging to the Guyana Police Force.
According to Mr. Vyphuis, the Number Two Barrack Room is now being used for the library and as an administrative building. The original administrative building was a part of the quartermaster’s building. Should this structure be rehabilitated then more persons can be trained simultaneously.

Commander Vyphuis also expressed gratitude to the main stakeholders for seeing the venture to fruition.
President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce Bhigroog Poonai, said at an early stage it was realized that his organization’s $100,000 pledge to get the ball rolling was inadequate for the mission ahead. A raffle was one of the fund raising ventures the chamber held to satisfy their determination to see the project to fruition.
Mr. Poonai opined there is an increase in criminal activities in Division ‘B’. He is optimistic that with the Felix Austin College now up and running, ranks would now be better trained in crime fighting and maintaining law and order.
The Commandant of the Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ is Deputy Superintendent Ian Amsterdam.
He intends to establish a College Management Committee that would oversee the development of the institution.

According to Mr. Amsterdam, the administration of the college intends to work closely with non-governmental bodies, civil society, and other groups in order to better understand the ply of the society and to better execute their service and protection motto.
Mr. Amsterdam said the college would have an ongoing recruitment drive and persons desirous of writing the entrance examination can so do any Monday through Friday.
A number of organisations have indicated an interest in offering their assistance – one such is the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, which has offered to facilitate training on conflict resolution and stress management, among others.
Mr. Amsterdam and his teams have their mind set on completing the computer laboratory and gymnasium along with other projects aimed at making the academy self-sufficient.
The Motto of the Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ is ‘We will reform through training, change, and professionalism – the image of the Guyana Police Force.’

UNICEF Representative Doris Roos also pledged her organisation’s assistance in the form of training, especially in the area of child protection, domestic abuse and also by providing some equipment.
Ms. Roos said that domestic violence against women and children is on the increase and as such a halo effect is created and this eats into the social and cultural fabric of society.
She spoke also of the increasing number of children who ‘run way’ from home – “No one runs from good!”
Also addressing the re-commissioning ceremony was Region Six Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha who spoke of funds being invested by Government to boost the crime fighting capability of the Guyana Police Force.
Prior to the opening, A.H. & L. Kissoon Limited handed over to the representatives of the college two sets of mattresses. Citizens Bank donated a computer.

The Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ was constructed 19 years ago with the help of well wishers who donated the necessary material and equipment. Members of the Police Construction Section from Georgetown and Berbice built the actual structures.
The spot on which the college now stands was previously the Traffic Outpost, which was established after the commissioning of the Corentyne Highway in the early 1970s.
The Felix Austin Police College Division ‘B’ was declared opened in 1990 by the late President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. (Melissa Johnson )

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