Police force recruiting civilian specialists as part of reform process

As part of the reform process to improve its performance and repair its image, the Guyana Police Force has advertised several civilian vacancies for various positions.
The positions range from strategic manager and planning officer to project coordinator and communication officer, and are part of the force’s drive to review the manner in which it is portrayed.
Among some of the other recommendations to improve the image of the force are changing the colour of uniforms worn by the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) and renaming the force.
Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that the Guyana Police Force was looking forward to the implementation of the changes and the positive impact that could result therein.
According to Brumell, the strategic plan aimed at revamping the image of the force will be applicable long after his departure from office.
He noted that the reform plan would be executed over a five-year period, and this was just a first step towards achieving the mandate set out in the agenda.

Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell

This newspaper understands that the Security Sector Reform Strategy is being implemented through consultations with a technical specialist and the Home Affairs Ministry.
Strategic planning
The force is seeking someone to fill the post of head of the Strategic Management Department, which would be responsible for advising the management team for an annual strategic planning process and taking the lead in the development of the force’s strategic plan.
The Guyana Police Force has indicated that persons applying for this position must have a bachelor’s degree in statistics, economics or business.
The force is also seeking a team leader for the Strategic Management Department. The team leader would be responsible for providing leadership to the unit to ensure the effectiveness of all aspects of their roles and agenda.
The individual would also be required to ensure the policies and procedures of the team are developed, implemented, and communicated across the force’s membership.
The police force is also seeking applications for the post of strategic planning officer in order to facilitate the annual strategic planning workshop; the officer will also draft the strategic plan, and analyse the organisation’s performance, industry trends and existing regulations.
There are also vacancies for the post of research officer, change facilitation officer, change communications officer, project coordinator, monitoring and evaluation coordinator, risk management officer, and divisional analyst.
The scope of duties attached to the position of divisional analyst includes the collection and analysis of divisional level data concerning traffic, crime, human resources, finance, and public relations.
The analyst would also be required to provide support in the development of data collection processes and systems, including those for migration.

Overhaul is necessary
Joint Services heads, including Director of Prisons Dale Erskine and Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, recently reaffirmed their support for the reform strategy, recognising that the overhaul of the sector was necessary to meet the demands of modern-day society.
Owing to recent rapid development in several sectors of the country, there is greater need for ample security to be in place.
The strategy was based on the realisation that the police force is 173 years old and can no longer support the fast-paced modernisation of the economy in its present form.
The modernisation process began with the implementation of the Citizen’s Security Programme funded through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
This year, much focus will be placed on internal and external training for police ranks to complement the reform process.
The Guyana Fire Service has also been investing in the acquisition of modern equipment and safety gear, while the Guyana Prison Service has been implementing its strategic plan which aims to making the prisons safer and more humane.