Rohee’s security plan…Opposition, Chamber of Commerce differ on support

Jan 03, 2013 News

There have been differing reactions to the recently announced security sector improvement plan, with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) pledging its support, while the parliamentary opposition has vowed to oppose it as long as it is piloted by current Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Clement Rohee

On December 31, the Home Affairs Minister outlined an elaborate plan that will see among other things significant changes within the Guyana Police Force and other entities under the purview of his Ministry.
Facing a gag order in the National Assembly, the Minister took the opportunity to detail his five-year plan that will include changes for the Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, as well as the Guyana Fire Service; the employment of specialist civilian professionals within the Police Force and the possible contracting of international police officers as consultants.
Yesterday in a press statement, the GCCI said it viewed very favourably and commends the recent announcement by the Minister, on the adoption and proposed implementation of strategic plans for the improvement of the country’s security agencies.
“Our private sector members have identified the security situation as a significant barrier to doing business in Guyana and this timely intervention places substantial focus on reducing this impediment. A safe and secure environment attracts capital, encourages growth, and helps to improve conditions that contribute to the overall quality of life of our citizens,” the GCCI stated.
According to the GCCI, meeting the security objectives will be vital for the economy, businesses and society as a whole. The body said that it specifically noted, approvingly, the proposed inclusion of non-state entities, groups and individuals in the implementation phases of the outlined initiatives.
The Chamber said that it stands ready to engage and work with all stakeholders to ensure that the measures and objectives outlined are achieved.
“Similarly, the GCCI views this as a shared undertaking and we are calling on our own membership, on government, on opposition political parties, on labour organizations, and other civil society groups, to support the implementation of the strategic plans to ensure a safe and prosperous Guyana.”

Clinton Urling

But that call could fall on deaf ears with respect to the opposition, with leaders of both the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity maintaining that Rohee will not be supported as far as the security plan is concerned.
“We are committed to supporting security sector reform, yes, we will support any reasonable measure that will make the country safer … but as far as Mr. Rohee is concerned, the National Assembly has taken a position and we do not believe that based on his performance over the last six years that we have confidence in him to push these reforms through,” Opposition Leader and APNU Chairman David Granger was quoted as saying in another section of the media.
Granger said that his party is not against any plan to make Guyana safer but not under the stewardship of the current Home Affairs Minister.
“Mr. Rohee has demonstrated that he does not have the competence to make this country secure and he does not have the confidence of the majority of the National Assembly. We have no reason to believe that he will do over the next four years what he has failed to do over the last six years,” Granger stated.
And AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, while expressing satisfaction that the plan included civilian oversight, maintained that Rohee was not the man to lead it.
“The trouble we have now is that the strategy is supportable … but at this stage I have no confidence in that Minister and if it is going to be implemented under his stewardship it will undermine our confidence in the efficacy of its implementation,” Ramjattan was quoted as saying.

The National Assembly had narrowly passed a motion of no confidence in the Minister of Home Affairs, after it was put forward by the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition.
But on the last day of 2012 Rohee had said that his Ministry wants a constructive engagement with the parliamentary opposition, since according to him, there must be an engagement that will be structured, sustainable and all-embracing, with well established reporting and accountable mechanisms worked out and approved by both sides.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs is prepared to bring to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for deliberations, the Strategic and Implementation Plans for the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service, as well as its projections for the 2013 Budget for the Guyana Police Force.
The Ministry is agreeable to the setting of agreed and specific timelines for reporting back to the Oversight Committee on the progress and challenges that have arisen to facilitate or hinder implementation of the Strategic Plans earlier mentioned. The Ministry is prepared to make itself available regularly to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector in an effort to ensure greater transparency and accountability of its activities and those of the Departments that fall under its jurisdiction. The Ministry of Home Affairs is convinced that in the spirit of compromise and accommodation, the maintenance of peace and good order in our country can be further advanced,” Rohee had stated.