Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said the agreement for the US$20 million Inter-American Development Bank loan would be signed this week, paving the way for the implementation of the citizens’ security programme, which includes the reform of the police force.

Rohee told this newspaper yesterday that certain aspects of the programme have already commenced. Asked to name one area where work has begun, Rohee cited training for the establishing of a special crime-fighting unit. He said this unit would be established sooner than the other aspects of the programme.

The US$20 million loan has generated much debate, since government had earlier announced that former New York Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik would have been hired as a consultant to oversee the reform of the police force.

There were numerous criticisms over this move since Kerik had admitted to ethics violation in the US.

President Bharrat Jagdeo has since said that the former New York top cop would be hired in an advisory capacity to himself and Rohee and he would not be paid from the US$20 million loan.