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CCTV cameras to be fully operational within two months
Work is currently ongoing to reach the August month end deadline for the completion of the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, said that most of the cameras have been installed already, and some testing has been conducted.
He noted that they are working to have more than 40 cameras installed at strategic junctions around Georgetown and its environs. According to the Minister, the aim to have these cameras set up in the urban and near urban areas.
One of the CCTV cameras which has already been installed.
He however noted that this did raise some question by some section of the society about the other areas which will not benefit from this new security feature.
“We have considered all that but then there is the question of cost and where is it most needed.” On that note, the Minister added that there is always space for review.
The Minister added that the intention was to target where there are lots of traffic and movement of persons and incidents with respect to security issues.
According to Minister Benn persons from the wider society have also suggested that a situation is being developed where criminals may want to shift their activity to locations where the security presence in little.
He added that persons have also suggested that the Government is creating a situation of “Big Brother is watching” but Minister Benn said it is more a situation where “Big Brother is looking out for you”.
“This new feature will assist greatly in our crime fighting efforts as it will help us with placing people at certain places at a particular time.”
The Minister added that the cameras will be monitored on a 24/7 basis. “There will be persons monitoring these cameras, reviewing when necessary and images will be available for the law enforcement agencies upon request.”
He noted, too, that the feature will seek to assist in traffic issues.
He further noted that since they were installing the traffic light network there was a component which could have facilitated the CCTV system but the money for that project was not available at the time.
The government had promised in 2005 to introduce the CCTV cameras to help counter rampant crime. Footage gathered will be monitored and archived at the National Intelligence Centre which is being set up in the Castellani compound.
The closed circuit cameras are expected to extend to parts of East Coast Demerara and East Bank Demerara. Government had allocated $15M in the 2011 national budget to purchase the equipment and recently passed a supplementary provision of $11M for the same activity.
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