The 24th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) will now be held in Guyana from May 11-15, following last year’s devastating hurricane in The Turks and Caicos, the original host country.
Two executive members from the organisation’s head office in Barbados recently travelled here to finalize arrangements ahead of the event, which is being hosted by Guyana after 13 years.
So far 24 Commissioners have confirmed their participation in the five-day conference being held under the theme ‘Police Reform – an Imperative for Quality Service’.
In addition to Police Commissioner Henry Greene, 31 officers from the Guyana Police Force will also attend.
During the event which is slated to be held at the Pegasus Hotel, some 21 exhibitors, mainly overseas-based, will be showcasing their products which are in the line of policing and security in the hotel’s lobby.
Members of the media were introduced to Manager of the ACCP’s head office, David Wiltshire, Manager of the ACCP Head Office in Barbados and Marcia Manning, Executive Secret-ary at a recent press conference hosted by Police Commissioner Greene.
He explained that originally The Turks and Caicos was identified to be the host country but “due to the devastating effect of hurricane Ike they are unable to do so.”
Guyana was then asked and the local police force “is happy and honoured to have been given the responsibility of once again hosting the ACCP Conference and will be working assiduously to ensure that all goes smoothly,” he added.
Greene said that they are particularly pleased to have the assistance of Wiltshire and Manning who were in the country to liaise with the local coordinators headed by Assistant Commissioner Steve Merai, and assisted by Secretary Sybris Harvey, to ensure the success of the conference.
Further, he said that commissioners of police from all member countries of the ACCP will be in attendance at the conference during which plenary sessions on a number of issues concerning law enforcement and security will be in focus.
Meanwhile, several social events and other activities are still in the planning stages.
Greene gave assurances that all plans are on track.
The ACCP was established on 20th August 1987 in Castries, St. Lucia and its mission is to be the principal organization for promoting and facilitating the collaboration and co-operation in the development and implementation of policing strategies, systems and procedures.
It also aims to support and advance the just and reasonable interests of its members and influence the development of laws, procedures and practices that will advance the effectiveness of policing in the region.
It also takes an active interest in the development of young people regionally and internationally, among other objectives.
The current President of the ACCP is Darwin Dottin, Commissioner of the Royal Barbados Police Force.
