Rohee defends stewardship as minister

Clement Rohee on Saturday defended his stewardship as home affairs minister, noting that there has been notable reforms as well as stability in the security sector since he assumed the portfolio in 2006.
Rohee made the pronouncements while speaking during TVG’s Under the  Microscope programme, which was aired on Saturday evening. His comments came in light of an ongoing battle in the National Assembly regarding a no-confidence motion the opposition used their one-seat majority to pass against him.
The minister disclosed that when he took up the post of home affairs minister; he found that were a number of issues that ought to be addressed, noting the most important being the accusation that the police was acting unlawfully in certain areas.
“Of course, I didn’t necessarily agree with that, but in looking at the total security architecture, I thought that it was necessary to examine new areas where laws ought to be formulated and implemented,” he said.
The minister noted that during his first term in office (2006 to 2011); more than 14 new pieces of legislation were formulated; laid in the National Assembly and passed, with many of them being implemented.
“Among them is the traffic laws, such as the use of cellular phones whilst driving; driving under the influence of alcohol; loud music being played in public transportation and few others that came subsequently,” the minister stated.
However, he noted that the more “hard laws” include the act, which has to do with the listening in on conversation of persons with the permission of the court, while noting that there were other pieces of legislations with respect to criminalising certain activities, which in the past, did not exist.
“These 14 pieces of anti-crime legislations brought significant changes in the security sector, and gave to law enforcement agencies, particular the Guyana Police Force, the legal authority to act in situation which in the past prohibited them to act due to the lack of the laws,” Rohee explained.
Challenges
Rohee stated that there were numerous challenges while attempting to stabalise the sector. He noted that in doing so, it required patience, tolerance and dialogues with the law enforcement agencies.
He said even though he has the power under the act to give orders to the police commissioner, his main intention was to convince the law enforcement agencies on the way forward, and have them “buy into” the programme on the table.
Another challenge under his stewardship was due to the fact that a lot of emphasis was placed on community policing in Guyana, it meant that the ministry had to make regular visits into the communities with the intention of encouraging persons to provide their services voluntarily, as a means of supporting the police force.
Rohee also stated that when he took over the Home Affairs Ministry, he realised that the police force lacked a lot of assets, such as boats, vehicles, motor cycles and a lot of sophisticated equipment to assist them in crime scene investigations.
He said through the budget, most of these issues were addressed, and the government will continue the drive to improve efficiency in the police force, in the execution of its duties.