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May 19, 2016 News
– More motorcycles needed to deal with CG bandits– Ramnarine
The operational capacity of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been strengthened,
with the acquisition of 15 new motor vehicles to its fleet.
Yesterday, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, at the force’s Tactical Services Unit Square (TSU), Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, officially handed over the keys for the vehicles to Acting Commissioner, David Ramnarine.
The vehicles, which were donated to the force by the government, include one tow truck, eight Hilux pickups and five Mark X motorcars.
In the 2015 budget, the police had recommended brand new vehicles to aid in their crime fighting ability but they eventually settled on vehicles that are no more than three years old—the 15 vehicles fall into that bracket.
Kaieteur News was told that the acquisition of the vehicles is reflective of Government’s effort to help the police with the necessary tools to maintain law and order.
The vehicles will increase the presence of the police on the roads and enhance their ability to deter crime and traffic offences.
However, questions were raised on whether motor vehicles were the best choice for the police to deal with the congestion and crimes in and around the city, especially since the bandits are now using CG bikes to carry out their
brazen attacks.
To this, Acting Commissioner, David Ramnarine said that they are receiving motorcycles to deal with the terrain and congestion in the city.
With regards to the changing face of crime however, the police force would hope that the numbers increase in terms of more motorcycles to effectively deal with CG bandits.
Ramjattan told the gathering that the new fleet is significant and plays a major part in the force’s response system.
“It will boost the Police Force and ensure the transportation of our police ranks to carry out their duty,” the Minister noted.
Police response has always been a plague for the Force. Citizens have complained on many occasions about the time ranks take to arrive at a location and often speak about bearing the expense to transport them.
While this publication was unable to ascertain the cost of the police new fleet, it was explained that the vehicles will be distributed to the most necessary locations.
The Minister added that the vehicles were presented to the force just as the country is preparing for its Jubilee celebration where excess security and lots of assets (to transport ranks) would be needed.
He said that his Ministry is currently in negotiations to purchase 20 additional vehicles.
The Minister urged that whoever will be utilizing the vehicles must take absolute care of them as if they were their own.
“It makes no sense that the government spends millions of dollars to purchase vehicles and then they end up in workshops due to carelessness of police ranks.”
He touched on the issues of policemen driving the force’s vehicles while under the influence of alcohol—as was the case last Sunday when 10-year-old Davin Sealey was killed by a drunken police rank who crashed into him at Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
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