Home Ministry to advertise for civilian panel to oversee police strategic plan

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said that his ministry is soon to advertise for civilians to sit on the panel to oversee the implementation of the ambitious police strategic action plan he announced on Monday.

Speaking to Stabroek News on Wednesday, the minister said the 10 civilians that would be sought to oversee the implementation of the strategic plan are not required from any particular sector. “Anyone is free to apply,” the minister said, noting that the only requirement is that the person must be civilian.

Rohee had said on Monday that the Strategic Plan would see the establishment of a Strategic Management Department, which will have oversight for the plan’s implementation.

“The employment of 10 high-level civilian professionals in non-line positions within the Guyana Police Force will ensure a high degree of professional, technical and efficient inputs to guarantee implementation of the plan,” he had said.

The ministry envisages marked adjustments to the internal management structure within the Guyana Police Force, he had added.
Rohee said he has not yet been briefed as to how many applications were received for the Coordinator of the Houses of Justice programme but a panel will be examining the applications received in accordance with the terms of reference for the post.

He explained that Houses of Justice are multi-agency service centres that will address “pressing social and safety needs” of citizens at the community level. The Houses of Justice are designed to improve access to public services, including public safety and will be located within the communities.

“Houses of Justice will introduce a novel approach to individual safety concerns, conflict resolution and limiting the everyday frustration people face in accessing public services by bringing together, under the same roof, several official institutions in charge of providing social services and public safety,” the minister said.

He said that during the first quarter of 2013, the Ministry of Home Affairs will establish Houses of Justice in 10 communities in Regions 2 and 3.

In the inception phase, staff from the General Register Office, the Guyana Police Force, the National Insurance Scheme and community policing volunteers will be rendering services and advice to members of the communities where the facilities are located.
The main beneficiaries will be persons living in Good Hope, Onderneeming to Perseverance, Lima to Reliance, Charity and Wakapau Village in Region Two and Patentia, Canal Number One, Klien Pouderoyen, Zeelugt and Parika in Region Three.

Further, he said that with a view to fulfilling its role and functions as regards the criminal justice system the ministry recently held a high level meeting with the Chancellor (ag), the Chief Justice (ag), the Chief Magistrate, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Prisons and the Director of Public Prosecutions. “The meeting was timely as it was productive and augurs well for the future insofar as the effective and efficient functioning of the criminal justice system is concerned,” Rohee said.