Three remodelled multi-million-dollar police stations were commissioned yesterday at New Amsterdam, Albion and Whim in Berbice
“This is an outstanding and a magnificent day for the Guyana Police Force in Berbice itself and the Corentyne Coast in respect of these new facilities,” Benn said, according to a release from the police force.
The Central Police Station in New Amsterdam was remodelled in 2019 by the Government of Guyana. The release said that the $150 million headquarters, replaces the smaller, dated facility, and houses several departments and facilities including a domestic violence room, juvenile friendly holding area, child-friendly area, witness protection room, a case management room, a case management system, traffic department, and criminal investigation department.
The release said that the minister also handed over two multi-purpose policing facilities at Albion and Whim which were remodeled through the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Citizen Security Strengthening Programme. The $74.8M and $67.6M facilities respectively were designed to accommodate a fully functional domestic violence room, juvenile friendly holding area, witness protection room, case management room and system, children friendly area and integrated crime information system and offices.
The release said that Benn also alluded to the successes of 2021, especially as it relates to the reduction of serious crime in Guyana by 20%.
The Minister said this achievement has a lot to do with the supply of new vehicles to the Guyana Police Force and “the fact that the GPF has a pro-active leader at the helm in the form of Acting Commissioner of Police Mr. Clifton Hicken who brings a renewed energy and exemplary leadership to the Organisation”.
Hicken in his remarks noted that under the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme funded by the IDB, 16 buildings were completed and three are at an advanced stage of completion.
