Police to set up oil and gas unit

Feb 27, 2025 News

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—install GPS tracking system on vehicles to prevent misuse

Kaieteur News- Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force Clifton Hicken on Wednesday announced, that the Force is looking to establish an Oil and Gas Unit, as part of its strategic plan spanning the years 2022-2026.

Speaking at the Annual Police Officer’s Conference Hicken told the audience that they have actualised sustainable achievements and will remain resolute and committed to advancing the Force within the game of fully realising the objective set forth in the strategic plan. “Therefore, we hope to achieve the following ones; establish a police Tourism Department, Vehicle Unit and an Oil and Gas Unit…” Hicken did not disclose what work the oil and gas unit will be doing and efforts to get clarity on the matter have been unsuccessful.

He highlighted too during his address that there has been a Police Reform Committee that was established, which will be driving changes in management, aiding in the transitioning from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the Guyana Police Service (GPS). Additionally, in keeping with this plan, there will be continued digitization of the Force’s assets management functions as well as its record-keeping processes.

Further, Hicken underscored that they will “Continue to decentralise the Force’s day care service to each police region, which would allow ranks to focus a bit more on the work while their children are properly cared for. In keeping with the wellness programme, he said there will also be therapists deployed to each policing region. He reminded of the construction of a Police Academy at Dora, where they will be rolling out accredited global degree programmes.

Meanwhile, during his address, President Irfaan Ali announced that the Guyana Police Force will be ring-fencing its assets to prevent their use for other purposes besides Force business. This will be possible because they will soon be able to keep track where each vehicle attached to the Force is at any given time, as well as assess the performance of a number of ranks using the Global Positioning System (GPS), which will be installed shortly.

President Ali told the conference that, “this year, an unprecedented $34.3 billion is allocated to the Guyana Police Force. This is the highest allocation ever in the history of the Guyana Police Force.”

He highlighted that of this sum, over $2B will be used to upgrade the Force’s fleet of vehicles. However, parallel to the upgrades, there will be investments into “a system that will ring fence, our assets, so that our assets cannot go on other rides except operational rides.”

President Ali underscored that this is an important aspect of the Force because they have to safeguard their assets, hence there will be GPS mapping and tracking of the assets, “So that we will know when we invest $2 billion in our assets and the public call, and we know we have five vehicles within five minutes of where that call is coming from, and none of the assets move, we will know where they were, what they were doing, and then we’ll have more people accountable as to why they did not respond. So that is the type of investment you’re making, putting the technology the asset, because people must be held accountable for their actions,” he stressed.

President Ali made it clear that the administration “cannot invest and does not have that level of accountability to support investment in giving us the best possible results. So that’s another important investment that we’ll be making.”

On January 19, this publication reported that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was allotted $2B from the $108.9B allocated to the security sector in the 2025 national budget to expand its fleet of vehicles. This was announced by the Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh during his budget presentation to the National Assembly. Dr. Singh told the House, “we have managed to improve our emergency response time and maintain a police presence in riverine communities with the acquisition of 27 boats and 21 outboard engines. To further expand the Force’s transport fleet, an additional $2 billion is budgeted in 2025.”

The Force will also benefit from an additional $4.7 billion, which has been allocated to bridge its infrastructural needs. This will include $1.7 billion towards the construction of the Brickdam Police Station. Another $1 billion is budgeted towards the construction and completion of police stations and outposts at Imbotero, Bonasika, Leguan, San Souci, Alberttown, Beterverwagting, East La Penitence, Kitty, Mahaica, Mahaicony, Weldaad, Orealla, Ekereku, Paramakatoi, Annai, Lethem, Ituni and Kwakwani.

(Police to set up oil and gas unit)

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• Assets, Commissioner, Conference, GPF, President Ali

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