President Ali announces ‘special housing programme’ for police
-personnel to receive tax-free bonus
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan today said members of the Guyana Police Force would benefit from a “special housing programme” as part of the Government’s efforts to improve the welfare of its personnel.
The President noted that the Police would also benefit from a two-week, tax-free bonus by year-end which he had announced during a meeting with army personnel in Kaikan, Region Seven last week.
“Part of our programme, to ensure we enhance the welfare of not only the senior officers but all ranks, is to ensure that we work on a special housing programme that will not only see ranks having access to house lots but to ensure that we help them to qualify so that they can get loans and grants to build their homes and own their homes. These are important things that add to performance, that adds to job satisfaction,” Dr. Ali saidat the Annual Commissioner’s Breakfast at the Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary.
The Government is also committed to improving police livelihoods over the next five years, but this must correlate with enhanced performance. To this end, special provisions would be made to facilitate training. Police can also benefit from the 20,000 scholarships the Government will start rolling out next year.
“You retire relatively young at 55 with tremendous experience, and as the economy grows and the economy opens up, there would be many more opportunities. As it is now, most of the retired officers, some will go on to administrative, operational jobs but a lot in security companies. The opportunities will be much greater than this, but we have to ensure that you are equipped to benefit from those opportunities.”
Additionally, President Ali said the Police Force should put mechanisms in place to reassure officers that provisions would be made for their families in the event of a mishap.
And even as he assured them of the bonus the Head of State said incentives should not be the driving force for Police to resolve cases; rather it should be based on their oath, commitment to office and love for country and people. When fulfilling that objective becomes the goal, he said, there would be immense rewards that are both tangible and intangible.
Dr. Ali added that professionalism is the hallmark of the Police Force, and he urged the senior officers to identify ways to enhance relations with the public. The President said once trust is restored between the Police and people, their respect for the Force and the Government would increase.