CSSP to continue
–Will be expanded to the hinterland
DPI, Guyana, Friday, February 14, 2020
Coordinator of the Citizens’ Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP), Dr. Clement Henry says plans are underway to ensure the programme continues beyond this year.
The IDB-funded project provides skills, entrepreneurship, and job readiness training for at-risk youths from vulnerable communities and had received funding up to December 2020.
Dr. Henry said the project had made such a significant impact that Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan was committed to ensuring that it continued.
More than 100 persons have graduated from the entrepreneurship training, while over 300 benefited from the job-readiness component, and close to 800 from the skills training component.
Dr. Henry said that he has been in talks with the government and they are looking to get additional funding from the IDB or have it funded solely by the government.
One of the main objectives he noted is to get the programme extended to the hinterland. Currently, the programme targets 20 communities across Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10.
“So far our exchanges with the government has been pretty fruitful, and so we are looking forward to continuing this programme beyond 2020 because we are just touching the tip of the iceberg with what we are doing. So with the support from the government, we are looking to expand the programme to the hinterland,” Dr. Henry stated.
He noted that a draft budget has already been submitted to the government for the continuation of the programme.
The CSSP aims to reduce crime and violence and forms part of a $3Billion programme that has three components – Community Crime and Violence Prevention; Crime Prevention and Investigation, and Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration Services.