…to boost crime-fighting capacity
With the high influx of foreign nationals in Guyana, especially those from Spanish speaking nations, acting Police Commissioner Paul Williams has called on the ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to develop their skills in the area of foreign languages, to be better able to fight crime.
Williams pointed out that it would be very sad to know that, for example, a Chinese national was complaining to an officer that the person, who robbed him or her, was standing right there, and just because of the language barrier, the service it offers is less effective.
He said there is a high influx of Chinese, Cubans and Venezuelans into Guyana and pointed out that it is important for Police Officers be able to understand basic words in the certain foreign language.
Williams added that training does not have to be facilitated by the GPF, owing to the fact that “we are now living in a technological age. The ranks or the recruits, they are pretty young and they can even help to develop their capacity through social media and all these things because all these things are very accessible now via the use of phone, Internet and so on,” he posited.
It is because of this, he said, that in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Induction courses that Spanish is now being taught.
In addition to this, the crime fighter seized the opportunity to renew his call for officers to treat all persons – irrespective of their race, sex or religion – with respect.
“There should be no discrimination as to sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preferences and relationships. Show respect for all human rights and constitutional rights,” Williams urged.
