The Guyana Police Force in a release today said they received “10 brand new 9mm Pistols and over 3000 matching rounds of ammunition” from private security firm, VxL Security South America. According to the Force the donation forms “part of the continued collaborative effort between the Force and private security firms in enhancing and boosting operational capacity and crime-fighting efforts countrywide.”
In an invited comment on the donation, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Slowe, said he is unaware of the Force accepting donation of arms and ammunition from private security firms. According to the retired ACP, he is aware the Force would have purchased arms and ammunition from licensed firearm dealers. Long ago, he said, such purchases used to be done by the Crown Agent.
Rubbishing the Force’s claim that the donation would enhance and boost operational capacity and crime-fighting efforts countrywide, Slowe said the Force is not short on weapons, what the Force lacks is proper training for the police and proper Standard Operating Procedures. According to Slowe, “this is sheer madness.”
Going further, Slowe said the recent incident of one police shooting another is indicative there is a clear need for training. The Police reported 31-year-old Detective Corporal #20922 Dwayne McPherson, who was stationed at Mahaicony Police Station, was shot and fatally wounded by another police officer on January 1, 2023.
From the reporting of the incident Slowe said there it was clear nobody’s life was threatened that necessitated the need for the shooting. It makes no sense putting more firearms in the hands of people without training will create more accidents, not boost operational capacity and crime-fighting, the retired ACP declared.
The guns and ammo were handed over to Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ (ag) Mr. Ravindradat Budhram at his office at Force Headquarters, Eve Leary, by representatives from VxL Security South America Inc., Mr. Kerry Crain (Project Manager) and Mr. Joseph Holligan (Guard Force Commander).
VxL South America Inc., whose registered address is 89 Duke Street, Kingston, on its page said it was founded in 2016.
