The private sector on Wednesday demonstrated its support for Community Policing Groups (CPGs) when it, along with the Ministry of Home Affairs, donated a number of motorcycles and other gear to them.

The items were presented to members of various CPGs at the Ministry of Home Affairs, in the presence of Minister Clement Rohee and other officials. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the Jialing Company presented three motorcycles valued $500,000 to the ministry. Last year the company donated 216 fully-equipped motorcycles to the Guyana Police Force. GINA said the ministry also donated four motorcycles and other items valued at $918,000 to other CPGs across the country.

Rohee said that Jialing’s contribution is “a good example of co-operative citizenship where businesses and stakeholders have been providing tangible resources to fight crime.” He also said, “The main objective is to make community policing groups more effective in their contributions to the fight against crime.” The minister said the cycles will help to improve the CPGs’ response to crime.

Rohee also said the ministry recently provided outboard engines and boats to the CPGs of the E and F divisions in the interior. These resources were allocated because the ministry recognizes the importance of spreading the resources beyond the coastland. According to the minister, providing transportation for CPGs will encourage more persons to join such groups. This, he added, is an incentive to the groups and a demonstration of government’s support of them.

In his remarks, Jialing’s Executive Manager Lakeram Roopnarine said he hopes that the cycles would be beneficial in the fight against crime and he pledged the company’s continued support to the ministry.

The minister appealed to other businesses to emulate Jialing’s example and to contribute to crime prevention. He also gave assurances that the cycles will be used effectively. Rohee said it is the administration’s policy to make sure there is a proliferation of CPGs countrywide.