Twenty-six undergoing Junior Officers’ Course training

GPF logoGeorgetown: The 2014 Guyana Police Force, Junior Officers’ Course is underway, with twenty- six (26) law enforcement officers receiving training which  seeks to address the critical needs of middle managers in the Guyana Police force and its sister organisations.

The course enhances the middle manager with leadership skills to link the bridge between senior command and the lower rank and files of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Prison Service, the Guyana Fire Service and the City Constables.

The two-module course, which commenced one-month ago, and is well into module one, was inaugurated  this morning by Minister of  Home Affairs Clement Rohee  and Commissioner of Police (acting) Seelall Persaud at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, who both stressed the pivotal role of ensuring continuous training to achieve effective law enforcement in Guyana.

 “The Ministry of Home Affairs believes that training at all levels of the Force is pivotal to the long and short term sustainability of the Guyana Police Force,” Minister Rohee said.He pointed out that his ministry, not being unmindful of the need for training in the force, has over the years, provided full support to successive Commissioners of Police in their training programmes.  A policy, which he pledged to continued.

Minister Rohee noting the policy of the Force to facilitate the participation of members of the other Services in Junior Officers’ Course is continuing, and lauded the arrangement. He said in fact, that it is necessary that this arrangement should be sustained, since the Government believes that the disciplined services should engage in joint training and operations to build capacity and promote the concept of collaboration and cooperation.

The Home Affairs Minister also noted that such joint exercises would also allow for members of the services to appreciate the way each agency functions. They would also provide opportunities for the sharing of experiences, he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by the Commissioner of Police who noted that the presence of participants from  the multi-organisations, can only help to  contribute to the not only the course  success, but as well to its lasting impact in addressing organised crime and other law enforcement issues. “In this world, networking is critical,” Seelall said.

He advised of the old Chinese saying, that when good gains a foot, evil gains a yard. “As we upgrade our skills and equipment, rest assure that criminals are doing the same. To win against such misguided and determine persons, the forces of law and order have to work together and we have to keep raising our gains,” he warned.

He cautioned that it is necessary but not sufficient for law enforcement authorities to become smarter and more equip to deal with the changing face of evil. He said therefore that it is essential for officers to learn the latest technologies and to understand how they might be abused by felons, as well as how they could be deploy to enhance police work.

The Junior Officers’ Course Number 25 is one of the core courses of the GPF. It is among several other core courses that are responsible for capacity building for the members of the GPF. The course is of twelve weeks duration. Module One is for five weeks and address management and leadership principles.

Senior Superintendent, Force Training Officer Paul Williams explained that this module is being conducted under the auspices of the University of Guyana, and would have dealt with topics including strategic management, leadership and motivation, communication and new media and stress and anger management.

Module two is of seven weeks duration and focus on police procedures, operations and coordinating functions of the joint services, he said.  Topics to be covered under this module are structured under the premise of core functions and principles, challenges and issues that have emerge from reports, speech, the media and other international best practices.

Williams said that to meet the challenges and to ensure that ranks are equip with the requisite knowledge a wider section of stakeholders including Director of Public Prosecution, Chairman Police Complaints’ Authority, the Attorney General Chambers and Political parties are being in-sourced to deliver on these topics.

This year, Junior Officers’ Course training is being conducted under the theme “Training with the focus of maximising visions, skills and art for enhancing leadership for a modern Guyana Police Force.” The course has 26 participants; 22 are from the GPF and one each from the other services.