BUDGET 2022: More training for police officers; increased fire service capacity

The training of police officers and boosting the capacity of the Guyana Fire Service are part of the numerous initiatives catered for in the $47.9 billion allocation for public safety and security in the 2022 National Budget.

This is according to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh who said that the government aims to ensure that all people have access to a safe, orderly and peaceful environment.

To achieve this, $4.9 billion has been allocated to strengthen the assets of the Guyana Police Force; this includes the reconstruction of the Brickdam Police station that was gutted by a fire and expanding camera-monitoring around Georgetown.

Importantly, though, Dr. Singh said that training police officers remains a key focus and as such, $120 million has been allocated towards the training of police officers. And he said that training in crime and traffic management will continue to be facilitated locally and internationally.

And for the fire service, $255 million will be invested to procure a hydraulic platform that is expected to boost firefighting capabilities- particularly as Guyana’s landscape is changing towards more modern, high-rise buildings.

Sums have been allocated to continue works at a new fire service headquarters at Durban Park, a fire station at Ogle and the construction of fire station at Wales and facilities at New Amsterdam

A total of $2.3 billion has also been allocated towards enhancing the prison infrastructure across the country.