Georgetown: The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has started training over 200 new recruits as part of its drive to strengthen its capacity.
The recruits were selected from across Guyana and will undergo intense training, which will encompass all aspects of theoretical policing along with stringent physical evaluations during a four-month period.
The training will take place at the Felix Austin Police College at Eve Leary, Georgetown; Richard Faikall Training School in Essequibo and Felix Austin Police College in Berbice.
During this time, recruits from various Regions will be placed in foreign environments in an effort to familiarise them with the different aspects of policing diverse communities across Guyana.
According to the Police, this is being done as the Force seeks to reinforce its mission statement to serve the country “in a professional, proactive and accountable manner” in order to build “a safer and secure Guyana”.
Last year, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said that the Force was currently short of some 1500 ranks, citing the limited training capacity.
He explained that the Force conducted two residential training sessions (six months each) annually, but these can only facilitate a limited number of 330 persons. Persaud added that this course was essential for all recruits as it moulded them, instilling in them the necessary values and morals required of a Police Officer.
Nevertheless, he disclosed that there were some 1000 applicants on the waiting list for the training programme. He pointed out that these persons have already completed and passed entrance exams.
Meanwhile, two weeks ago, the Force graduated over 200 recruits from the Felix Austin Police College.
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