Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 01, 2016 News
– other issues up for discussion
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office with specific responsibility for Caribbean relations, James Duddridge will soon be handing over UK’s proposal for security sector reform to the Guyana government. This is to be done during Duddridge’s brief visit here.
At a press briefing yesterday, Duddridge said that the government will be given an unspecified time to consider the content of the proposal and decide on the way forward.
Last year, the new government approached the UK High Commissioner James Quinn, seeking to access the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government turned its back on.
COMPLETELY BASELESS
Back in 2009, the UK had offered a hefty sum for the SSRAP, but the previous government refused it on the grounds that the British law enforcement had too much of a big role in the implementation of the plan.
Last October, Quinn opined that the complaints by the previous government about the plan were completely baseless. He pointed out that the UK already does work with the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) “which you can argue is part of that 2009 programme.”
The British High Commissioner had indicated that a team would have looked at the Guyana Police Force to see what is lacking, identified the gaps, and then strategized as to what could be done to address those gaps.
As for allocations for the project, Quinn had said “there will certainly be some British money involved.”
Yesterday, Quinn told the media that the entire document cannot be released to the media as some “sensitive information” is included.
The original plan was developed in 2006 and was to be implemented in 2009; together with a three-year capacity building plan for a National Security Committee in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2009.
Parliamentary Oversight was described by the plan as being at the core of democratic governance and management of the security sector, and key to the success of the programme.
Security Sector Reform was seen as a critical component for the attainment of good and democratic governance and was twinned with the Commonwealth Secretariat’s sponsorship of the needs assessment of the National Assembly conducted by Sir Michael Davies and the recommendations which flowed there from 2005.
The inextricable link between governance and security was recognized, assessed, and addressed through the recommendations made.
The SSRAP had highlighted that “Guyana remains dangerously close to tipping point. The consequences of failure – of the various stakeholders to seize the moment, to engage and initiate decisive action – may well be the transformation of Guyana into a failed state and/or haven for international criminality, with all the regional and international implications that this may entail. This is a development that should be avoided at all costs and will entail some give and take and flexibility on all sides, in the interests of the long suffering people of Guyana.”
TIGHTENING LEGISLATION
During his visit, Duddridge will also be discussing with the government the need to “tidy” up its legislation that allows for hanging. Guyana remains the only Caribbean jurisdiction with legislation that prescribes the death penalty.
Duddridge said that the UK views the death penalty as “highly inappropriate.”
The British politician also wishes to speak to the government about outstanding Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender (LGBT) legislation.
Talk about oil and business will also be on the agenda. Duddridge said that all oil-processing nations need to be wary of the popular thought that oil is a single key to a country’s transformation—”it certainly is not.”
With regards to business, Duddridge pointed out Guyana is ranking rather low on the business index and has found itself in the company of countries like Pakistan. Duddridge said that the UK will be looking to help Guyana move itself out of such company. In this regard, he will be looking to have a meeting with Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.
(Abena Rockcliffe- Campbell)
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
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