Close to $544 million will be spent on the purchase and maintenance of vehicles, including the purchase of water cannon and a mobile police station to boost the mobility and efficiency of the disciplined services.

This falls under the $14.9 billion allocated to the disciplined services for the year, in the 2010 budget presented in the National Assembly yesterday.

According to the 2010 budget, the sum allocated to the security sector is meant to enhance capability of the disciplined services in addressing new and emerging dimensions of security threats, improving public order and safety as well as the heightening of public confidence in and support of law enforcement agencies.

Some $1.2 billion have been allocated for the construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and remodelling of facilities for the sector. Among the facilities catered for is the Brickdam Police Station lock-up, which is still undergoing rehabilitation and extension works. Rehabilitation works are also expected to be carried out under the allocated sum, to police stations at Orealla, Mara and Orinduik, while provisions have also been made for renovation works to be effected to the Georgetown Prisons, construction of a new fire station at Mahaica, and construction of new training schools for fire fighters and for police officers.

Additionally, a sum of $473 million has been set aside for the construction of a forensic laboratory which according to the budget will significantly improve the country’s forensic investigative capacity. In addition, more than $256 million will be expended on training within the sector including the training of trainers within the police force in the areas of investigation and detection of crime, information management, case management and strategic management.

As regards the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the standardisation of information gathering and surveillance, more than $1.2 billion has been allocated for the purchase and maintenance of equipment, some of which will target the expanded use of ICT within the disciplined services. This, according to the budget, will among other things further enhance the flow of information and strategic planning within the sector.

Meanwhile, the Justice sector will receive an injection of $1.7 billion, budgeted to employ improvement measures. Of the sum, $322.5 million have been budgeted for the implementation of several reform measures, including a strategic plan for mediation as well as mediation referral guidelines. This plan, according to the budget, is intended to reduce the excessive amount of cases filed within the High Courts and is expected to reduce the amount of cases requiring adjudication by a judge.

As regards infrastructural reform, some $121.8 million have been allocated for the construction and maintenance of courts countrywide, including $45.9 million set aside for the construction of the first Family Court, expected to be completed later this year. This facility, according to the budget will cater for issues such as divorce, division of property, domestic matters as well as guardianship among other issues.

Some $26 million have been budgeted for the construction of a Magistrates’ Court and office at Lethem, $19.3 million for the completion of the Charity and Leonora Magistrates’ Court and a further $27.2 million are expected to be expended on the maintenance of the High Court and Magistrates’ Courts.