$73 million project launched to enhance police response to vulnerable populations.

The US Embassy in Georgetown has launched a project entitled, Strengthening Guyana Police Force Training to Improve Responses to Vulnerable Populations. The launch was hosted at the Embassy by US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch on Tuesday, January 31.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Ambassador and Deputy Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus as well as other officials were in attendance.

The Ambassador explained the objective of the project which is being undertaken by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force.

Ambassador Lynch said, “The United States wants to see Guyanese law enforcement succeed in fulfilling their mission to serve all citizens and communities in a professional, inclusive, and accountable manner.  As we seek to help Guyana become more secure for all, we are also committed to ensuring they do so in a way that preserves human life and upholds the dignity of all citizens.

“This project advances our excellent partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force to support Guyana’s domestic and regional security and the effective and transparent delivery of inclusive security services.”

The Ambassador underscored the positive relationship between the United States and Guyana as relates to law enforcement.

Ambassador Lynch said, “The United States’ commitment to security assistance and human rights in Guyana is a key pillar of our foreign policy. Through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a shared regional security partnership, the United States has invested nearly one billion U.S. dollars since 2010. The United States provides training and capacity building to help Guyana’s law enforcement maintain the highest levels of professionalism.  For instance, every year the United States sends law enforcement officers from Guyana and across the hemisphere to our International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in El Salvador for in-depth training and exposure to new policing skills.  These programs not only help police officers respond to and investigate cases of gender-based violence to include sexual offenses, crimes against children, and trafficking in persons, but also focus on improving law enforcement through police professionalization, anti-corruption training, and community-based policing.”

In his remarks, Homes Affairs Minister Benn said, “The question of violence against women – domestic violence; question of children, trafficking and courses and so on, are issues which impact most the most vulnerable persons. They are most impacted either as victims, but also those perpetrators, because sometimes they feed off of each other in terms of relationships and the dynamics in the communities.”

Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus explained that, “To begin the project, PADF will work with the GPF in reviewing current training and standing orders specifically for vulnerable populations, and analyze standards and procedures regarding the use and response to violent and nonviolent crimes, de-escalation tactics, tactics to deal specifically in Guyanese communities”