Foundation donates $2.5M to community policing groups

The Marcus Brian Bisram Foundation on Monday donated $2.5M to the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) who will be celebrating their 41st anniversary in March 2017.

Radica Ramanandan, Community Policing Liaison Officer, Ministry of Public Security during an interview with Stabroek News said, “I asked Marcus Brian Bisram if he could support us and help us, and without any hesitation, he said, ‘I will be the sole sponsor of your programme’.”

The woman who is in charge of twenty-nine active CPGs in Berbice said that they have activities planned from the beginning of 2017 to the month of March. “We have youth groups where we have Spelling Bee competitions, we have the women groups to come out to show their work like sewing and handicraft.

Radica Ramanandan, Community Policing Liaison Officer, Ministry of Public Security receiving the cheque from Marcus Brian Bisram
Radica Ramanandan, Community Policing Liaison Officer, Ministry of Public Security receiving the cheque from Marcus Brian Bisram

We will be hosting a domestic violence programme, then we have a big interfaith prayer to be held. Then we have our big event with all of the CPG members from the whole of Guyana doing the march and giving the Minister his salute.”

Marcus Brian Bisram, the founder of the non-profit organisation, told Stabroek News that this is just another way for him to give back to his fellow Guyanese. “The community police plays a pivotal role not directly but indirectly because all these things couldn’t be possible without having a safe and secure environment.” He stated that in his view the Community Policing Groups make a positive impact to society in general. “After I did my research, there are several high profile cases that the community police were the first set of people to respond. Their impact has been very successful and positive and I think they are a good support in the force,” Bisram divulged.

The handing over ceremony was held at Bisram’s residence in the Number 70 Village.