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Special enforcement training for police force on mining, logging
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has launched special training with the Guyana Police Force to deal with enforcement of the mining and logging sectors.
A special four-day training session involving the police force and representatives of the forestry and mining sectors started yesterday.
According to the Ministry, the workshop focused on laws and regulations of the natural resources and environmental sectors and is titled “Legislative and Regulatory Capacity Building for the Guyana Police Force”.
The training is being held at the police’s Training Centre, Camp Road, and will end on Friday.
Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh noted the areas for improvement along with recommendations to instill professionalism, ethical behaviour and cooperation among the sector agencies and the security forces. He also highlighted the need for continuous monitoring and gathering of intelligence to build the capacity of the officers.
According to the Ministry, the rapid expansion in the mineral and forestry sectors have made active monitoring and enforcement a challenge for agencies under its purview.
“Hence, this training exercise with the GPF will focus on the laws and regulations within the natural resources and environmental sector in an effort to improve compliance and to enhance the capacity of police officers.”
The Ministry pointed out that armed forces with a deepened understanding of the laws and regulations can assist mining, environmental and forestry officers more effectively, especially when issues arise and the knowledge is needed.
The training is being facilitated by experienced training officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). Some of the topics to be covered include the laws governing the GGMC, EPA and GFC, Litter (Enforcement) Regulations (2013) and Wildlife Conservation and Management Regulations (2013).
Minister Robert Persaud, earlier this year, had signaled a year of active monitoring and enforcement since the latter has become a challenge due to a rapid expansion in the mineral and forestry sectors.
“Minister Persaud recognizes the wider powers of enforcement and authority by the Guyana Police Force hence the directive to pursue the said capacity-building exercise, it is expected to target the officers in the hinterland region and further expanding to countrywide efforts.”
The sectors had indeed been posing major challenges with increasing crimes like robberies, murders, assaults and even human trafficking being reported. Illegal mining has also been a major concern. The extractive industry has been a major one for Guyana with gold remaining the biggest foreign currency earner last year.
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