In the aftermath of two bloody massacres, government has allocated $13.7 billion for the strengthening of the security sector including $900M for the purchase of two helicopters and specialised weapons and equipment.
Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh made the disclosures during the reading of the National Budget in the National Assembly yesterday.
The Minister said that for the security sector, intelligence gathering, specialised training and rapid response capabilities will be the focus of a $13.7 billion allocation for the security sector. Included in this will be an allocation of $900M for the purchase of two helicopters and $60M for a crime and violence information system.
He said that the reforms in both the justice and security sector will be accelerated to ensure urgent actions are effectively executed over the short, medium and long term.
“To this end, Madam Speaker, we have provided $13.7 billion for the strengthening of our public safety agencies in the area of security. We have spared no effort in securing the support of both our multilateral and bilateral partners to maximise the level of resources available for the sector,” the Minister said.
He added that with the support of these partners, immediate action is being taken to increase public confidence in the capacity of the law enforcement system.
“To this end, we will improve the capability of rapid response systems to serious crimes; upgrade our communications systems and expand our access to police and databases, improve our intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities, intensify training in special operations for selected members of the joint services [and] ably equip our crime fighting forces with appropriate transportation and technologically appropriate equipment to enhance their capability on the ground and in the air,” the Minister said.
He said that the allocations made will also see the improvement in the oversight of the sector by the strengthening of the Office of Professional Responsibility, the Police Complaints Authority and the Police Service Commission and develop and implement a leadership training programme for the senior management level of the Guyana Police Force.
“Our Government has allocated $900M to ensure that appropriate equipment and other gear are available for our men and women in the joint forces.
Included in this Madam Speaker are two helicopters which will enable us for the first time to operate from the air in our fight against crime.
In addition, $65M will be expended to expand and equip community policing groups in order to support our crime fighting efforts,” he said. When the Lusignan massacre occurred on January 26 there was no helicopter to pursue the killers.
He added that $660M will be expended to develop an integrated crime and violence information systems to monitor trends in crime and violence and allow for more targeted evidence-based interventions, design and commence construction of a forensic laboratory and a modern police training facility.
Over $300M has been allocated for the completion, construction and rehabilitation of more than 30 police stations countrywide to provide for enhancing of the physical working conditions of the police force.
An amount of $97M was allocated for the construction of a juvenile holding centre at Sophia and an upgrade of the Mazaruni Prisons, the completion of the capital dormitory at the Georgetown Prison and the completion of a training facility for prison officers at Lusignan.
An allocation of $303M will be used for the modernisation of the justice sector and this will complement the work ongoing to reduce the backlog of civil and criminal cases in all levels of the courts.
The Minister said that the incomprehensible horrors of the last few weeks endured by the entire nation brought grief to the individual families and to the nation as a whole and also reinforced national resolve on the issue of national security.
“There’s no room for terrorism of any kind in Guyana, and we will strengthen all of our agencies that contribute to public safety and national security,” the Minister said.
