Security service expanded and improved in 2019

July 6, 2020

─$34.7B spent on transformation

DPI, Guyana, Monday, July 6, 2020

In 2019, every sector under the Ministry of Public Security was expanded and improved to provide a safer Guyana for all. In that effort, $34.7Billion of the $35.6Billion budget was spent.

A large portion of that sum was spent on crime prevention and reduction. This saw the expansion of the Divisions of the Guyana Police Force from seven 12 to include Mahdia, Anna Regina, Fort Wellington, Diamond and Mabaruma.

This also included the rehabilitation of 12 police stations across the country.

As part of police reform, several new units were operationalised in the Criminal Investigation Unit to effectively tackle and solve crime.

Police officers were trained in several areas including Integrated Crime Information System and Crime Intelligence; Crime Scene Management, Transnational Crime, Fraud and Financial Crimes among other critical areas.

The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory also received a boost as it can now conduct DNA testing several years after its establishment. Toxicology and gunshot residue testing was also added as the lab is now in accordance with ISO17025 standards, geared towards facilitating the international accreditation process.

The sum of $1.4Billion was spent on prison reform. This facilitated not only training of officers of the Guyana Prison Service but also to 1,050 inmates. The inmates were trained in numeracy and literacy, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate mathematics, carpentry, joinery, electrical installation and culinary arts.

The Guyana Fire Service enhanced its firefighting capacity with the acquisition of a $292Million fireboat. This is added to five new ambulances, two new and seven reconditioned water tenders, and a rescue and firefighting vehicle.

Additionally, the Guyana Defence Force’s air, land and water fleets were also boosted with the purchase of 7 vehicles, 4 drones and 4 boats. Also, the Civil Defence Commission added 2 vehicles to its fleet by 2 vehicles and expanded several bases at Timehri, Mahdia and Lethem.