By Leroy Smith
The Guyana Police Force due to the difficulty with sourcing spare parts for the fleet Nissan Navara pick- ups coupled with a spate of mechanical issues has decided to return to the Hilux Open back vehicles previously used.
Today the Guyana Police Force received 15 new vehicles from the Government of Guyana. The vehicles, one Tow Truck, Five Mark X luxury cars and eight Hilux single cab pickups.
A senior officer of the Guyana Police has confirmed the reason for the return to the Toyota Hilux. The vehicles, some which were sprayed in the official Guyana Police Force colours (blue and white) would be distributed to the various police divisions and the Traffic Department.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has since indicated that already discussions are ongoing to purchase additional vehicles for the Force as was provided in the 2016 National Budget.
He called on the police to care the vehicle and to address the issue of drunken police drivers as was recently witnessed in the Sisters Village accident that resulted in the death of a 10-year-old boy.
According to the Public Security Minister, it makes no sense that the state would be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase vehicles and that have to end up in work-shops due to carelessness of police ranks.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine who is performing the functions of Commissioner of Police has since applauded the Government for the handing over of the vehicles which he stressed is indeed needed by the Force.
He stressed that the vehicles would be properly allocated to the various divisions based on the transportation needs.
