Overseas training for fire officers

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee says four fire officers from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will benefit from overseas training this year and plans are in train to establish a holding facility for juveniles at Sophia.

The Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA) said Rohee made these disclosures in response to questions by PNCR MP Deborah Backer during the 2008 budget debate. Backer had asked whether any provision had been made for overseas training for the fire officers. Rohee said $8.5M was allocated to the GFS for training and scholarships for the officers.

He also told the House that the GFS is also expected to obtain assistance through the establishment of an auxiliary unit that will comprise trained members.

These officers will be given a stipend to assist in fire-fighting efforts.

Meanwhile, Rohee said that in accordance with the Juvenile Offenders (Amend-ment) Bill, $34M has been allocated to establish the first juvenile holding centre which will be located in Sophia.

The bill, which was approved last May, will allow for the establishment of holding centres for youths and for maintaining them for the reception, care and custody under the orders of the court “or for any other appropriate reasons as the Minister may determine.”

Backer also queried why $160M had been allocated to the Guyana Prison Service for dietary needs since “it was portrayed that more emphasis would be placed on self-sufficiency.” In response Rohee said the sum was provided to feed the prisoners until the agriculture programme comes fully on stream.

In January the agriculture ministry and the GPS had inked an MOU to restart agricultural activities at the prisons to ensure that it could provide its own food. Government had said work would be done to utilise the prisons’ estate to cultivate and rear livestock and produce more food.