Georgetown: Acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud says the community projects being executed by the Guyana Police Force are proving beneficial as the crime rates in those areas are on the decline.
Persaud noted that while it is too early to evaluate and assess the overall projects, it is now clear that those who were previously idle and liming are now channeling their energies towards these projects.
He pointed out that the Impact Albouystown Project has seen a reduction of crime in neighbouring communities.
Persaud said that the rate of serious crimes last year had increased from 2012 and for this year, there was an increase in serious crimes up to the month of March.
The Police Commissioner proudly stated that as of current, the serious- crimes rate has decreased by nine per cent when compared to last year. Additionally, Persaud mentioned that there are a lot of positives coming out of these engagements.
“In Albouystown, for example, there were cosmetology courses, people have been trained and are now operating beauty salons; there was training in cooking as well. I think all those persons are now certified now by Carnegie and they are working to supply restaurants and snackettes”.
He added that “There are persons who were limers and are now involved in block making. We have provided markets and provided some materials for them so they are actually earning by conventional means”.
The Commissioner said the Force is also working on the youth by building facilities for them so that they can direct their energies to constructive activities such as sports. He noted that the with Albouystown Project, they are currently working on improving the playfield on Independence Boulevard and have plans in store to develop the playfield in St Steven’s Street.
Development of playfield
The Police are also targeting youths in Agricola and have started working on developing the playfield there.
Meanwhile, Persaud disclosed that businesses and professionals also came forward to assist and have even sponsored the academic costs for quite a few students in Albouystown.
“They came on and say listen, we would like to do this for the children whose parents are taxed with providing uniforms, books and whatever else they may need for school,” he said.
The commissioner added that a lot is happening in terms of community development, disclosing that the police are also providing computer training for residents.
He mentioned that the Police Force is working along with a company in New York that provides them with computers to help with the training and will also be paying an Information Technology teacher to conduct these training sessions.
In addition, the Police Commissioner stated that the police have contributed to two feeding programmes in Albouystown; one with the Islamic Centre and the other by a church.
According to Persaud on West Demerara, the commander there, ‘D’ Division Commander Ian Amsterdam, has a different strategy in place to boost community development.
“He is pulling on board all the people that were doing youth work, whether religious or otherwise, and they meet monthly and try to boost what individually they are doing,” Persaud noted.
Over the past few months, the Police Force has been engaged in a number of activities as they seek to regain the confidence of the public while at the same time strengthening their relationship with citizens.
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