Ranks of the Guyana Police Force have been exposed to Level 1 Community Service Chaplaincy training as the entity expands its social approach to crime with the aim of giving first time juvenile offenders a chance at rehabilitation.
According to a Government Information Agency press release, the three-day training programme has been conducted by Dr Jake Popejoy of the International Association of Community Service Chaplains.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud emphasised the importance of working with communities and religious groups and the timeliness of the training.
In his session overview, Dr Popejoy emphasized the importance of the ranks being trustworthy, credible and at the same time holding to high ethical standards. More important however, Dr Popejoy said, ranks should make the best of their training and they should not abuse the privilege granted to them by their superiors. The training will also include stress management, the GINA release stated.
Reverend Kwame Gilbert who also addressed the gathering, GINA said, played an integral role in making the Cops and Faith Community Network a reality. He stressed the importance of vital partnerships in building society. Gilbert noted that over the years there was a need for alternative approaches in dealing with matters of juvenile justice and said even though steps were being taken at the executive level for juvenile justice reform, at the lower level it became necessary to have an intervention while awaiting the juvenile justice reform programme.
The Cops and Faith Community Network is being piloted in 10 communities that were involved in the Community Action Component of the Citizen Security Programme in regions 4 and 6: Sophia, Agricola/McDoom, Plaisance, Buxton/Friendship, Annandale/Lusignan, Angoy’s Avenue, Overwinning/Glasgow/Edinburgh, Port Mourant, Rose Hall and Kilkoy/Chesney/Fyrish.
