Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Ranks will pay for vehicles they damage – Ramjattan
-as 56 pickups rolled out for Xmas patrols
The days of daredevil driving may be over for ranks from the Guyana Police Force.
That’s because of new Force regulations that will result in policemen having to foot the bill for repairs to the vehicles they damage through reckless use.
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, issued this warning yesterday, while handing over 56 brand-new pickups, to the Guyana Police Force.
The pickups, part of a US$2.5M donation by the People’s Republic of China, will be on the road to support anti-crime patrols during the Christmas season.
“Please take care of them, because too many times, I notice even senior ranks crashing; we have also had senior ranks dying as result of bad driving,” Ramjatan said.
At the time he was addressing ranks at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square.
“We need not only that collective responsibility, but responsibility on the individual level as well.
“A number of you might want to do (reckless) things with the vehicles (but) there are some Standard Operational Procedures that are going to be implemented, and I want you to adhere to them; and one (Standard Operational Procedure) is you damage it, and bruise it up, we are going to surcharge you.
When you come and say that it’s difficult and constraining I will say ‘I warned you,’ so you are forewarned.”
Ramjattan also urged the ranks to upbraid their colleagues who drive recklessly.
“This is the property of the people; you are but agents of the people; make use of the vehicles to the extent of profitable use for the purpose of service and protection.
“They are still brand new. You are not going to get gifts like that regularly. It is almost $2.6M US worth of equipment that has come in so handily for the Guyana Police Force.”
The Public Security Minister said that “at the very beginning” of his stewardship, he, along with Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and “the leadership of the Force,” had worked out a plan for enhancement of the Force.
“And one aspect was to ensure that we get increased assets, and of course we were getting from the budgetary allocations, but nothing like this proportion.
Rolling ‘em out for Xmas: Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan hands over the pickups to Deputy Police Commissioner David Ramnarine
“I urge you, wherever they are to be deployed, policemen, Divisional Commanders, please do as I have pleaded with you.
“And of course citizens, make the complaints if you see wrong things are being done.”
Last month, the government of China provided US$2.6 million in donations to the Force.
This included 56 pickups, 35 All-Terrain-Vehicles (ATVs), three 21-seater buses, 44 motorcycles, 100 bullet proof vests, helmets and riot shields, 10 tactical ladders, 200 police flak jackets, 20 bulletproof shields, 20 anti-riot suits, 30 laptops, 40 desktop computers, 10 copy machines, 30 sound lever meters, five diesel generators, several spare parts and battery backups.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) recently detailed its Christmas security plan for Georgetown while other divisions have separately promised more beat patrol ranks, greater focus on high-risk areas of the community and traffic management systems.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Bureaucracy gone bananas!
…Peeping Tom kaieteur News- Every morning, the government wakes up, stretches its arms, and spends one billion dollars... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
