Cops and Faith Community Network launched

Sep 16, 2013 News

– to resolve minor offences

The Ministry of Home Affairs recently launched the Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN) in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Clergy and the Faith-Based Community in Guyana, to bring peace within communities seeking to eliminate minor offences such as cruelty to animals, domestic violence, threatening behaviour and threatening language of persons, and damage to property, among others.
This programme will be rolled out in 10 selected communities in Regions Four and Six. They are Sophia, Agricola/McDoom, Plaisance, Buxton/Friendship, Kilcoy/Chesney, Fyrish/Overwinning/Glasgow, Edinburg, Angoy’s Avenue, Port Mourant and Rosehall.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee addresses the launch of the Cops and Faith Community Network

The programme will be carried out for six months with monitoring and evaluation, following which, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, based on its progress will decide whether it can be replicated in other areas.
Every six months there will be a meeting in the communities with the GPF and the religious and faith-based organisations along with residents to have an update on the programme.
Minister Rohee expressed satisfaction with the implementation of this programme and the response that the faith- based organisations and the GPF have shown.
“This project is all about people, it is what I would describe as a people centered project aimed first and foremost as serving people in their respective communities,” Minister Rohee said.
“There are certain difficulties with what people call today issues in life which neither the young nor the old seem to be able to grapple with, and that is exactly why certain manifestations of inter-personal violence, which never ever appeared in this country is appearing now in such rapid ways,” he said.
“I see this as a beautiful combination of law enforcement and moral enforcement”, and “I am very pleased that the Guyana Police Force has bought into this concept and that it is now working towards its successful implementation,” the Minister stated.
Social Policy Advisor Reverend Dr. Kwame Gilbert, who brought forth the idea of the CFCN, said the project seeks to ensure that other options can be utilised in dealing with youths who commit minor offences, rather than have them endure the penal system.
He said the initiative has its origins in the COPS and Clergy Network of Red Lands California, USA and during a visit in 2012 to Police Departments in Los Angeles and Detroit, he said he was impressed with the way the initiative was working, and he shared it with Minister Rohee.
“It was first mooted in January 2012 by the local Community Action Component (CAC) meeting, at the level of the Citizens Community Programme, and is intended to deal with youths who will come into conflict with the Law for minor offences. In this regard it is a significant crime prevention effort,” he stated.

Reverend Dr. Kwame Gilbert, Social Policy Advisor speaking at the launch of the Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN)

Meanwhile Acting Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell pointed out that the GPF will pledge to give their best on this project. He added that it has promoted another partnership with religious organisations in communities.
Also at the launch of the CFCN was Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs Angela Johnson, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Human Services, Patrick Findlay, and Crime Chief Seelall Persaud. (A GINA feature)