The Guyana Police Force says it is working industriously on ensuring that there is a sufficient number of vehicles for Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) but that the sprawling nature of the region and the terrain are posing difficulties.
In a release yesterday, the police referred to an article in the Kaieteur News of September 05, 2014, under the caption, `Guyana’s largest Region has only one working police vehicle’ and said it wanted to clarify the situation.
It said that the police stations in the region of southern Guyana have been provided with motor vehicles including ATVs, motor cycles, a Land Rover, and a motor pick-up where necessary.
“It was indeed unfortunate and coincidental that at the time of the visit of the Kaieteur News and the Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) that many of the vehicles were down for repairs, with only the motor pick-up vehicle and motor-cycle at Lethem Police Station in working order”, the police said.
It added that the maintenance and repairing of police motor vehicles in the Region present an onerous task given the terrain and distances that have to be travelled in the performance of police duties. It also cited the challenges of acquiring the necessary spare parts.
However, recognising the need for the motor vehicles to be back in service, the Police Force said it has been working industriously.
It said that presently at the Lethem Police Station there are a motor pick–up vehicle, a motor cycle and an ATV, all in working order.
Another ATV has been assigned to Lethem and will be transported there shortly.
The police said that the Land Rover based at Lethem is out of order owing to a clutch plate and other issues and will be brought out to the capital for the repairs to be done. It said that there are working ATVs at Kurupukari, which comes under Lethem administratively, Monkey Mountain and Karasabai stations.
However, the ATVs at the Annai, Aishalton and Kato Police Stations are down.
The necessary parts for their repair have been acquired and sent to the locations for the work to be done and this is expected to be completed shortly.
The release added that the concerns raised have been noted and the police wished to assure the public of its commitment towards the provision of quality service.
“This has been enhanced through improved mobility that continues to be made possible with the provision of the requisite resources by the Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs”, the release said.
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