$10M to train police in cyber security; law enforcement academy on the cards

Parliamentarians approved spending in the sum of $17.5 billion for the Guyana Police Force on Thursday of which some $120 million will go towards training.

But also announced during the consideration of that spending by the Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn was that the government was considering the establishment of a Police Academy that will seek to train ranks at a higher-level year-round. That will come on board soon, he said.

Minister Benn did not state whether there were monies in the budget for this purpose this year but under training, including scholarships, there is a $10 million set aside to train ranks in cyber security.

Following the passage of the Cyber Crime Act in 2018, police ranks have found themselves investigating and prosecuting several breaches to the Act involving politicians.

The funding for training increased by some $41 million of which $5.7 million is for the payment of trainers, another $9.8 million for diplomas, $6.2 for intelligence gathering, $19 million for degrees and $16.9 million for masters

From the total sum for the force, $9.1 billion is the total cost for wages and salaries but considerable resources have also been set aside for the construction of new, rehabilitation of old and completion of several police stations under construction.

Including in that funding is $400 million for the construction of the Brickdam Police Station which was destroyed by fire last year.

Altogether, a total of $27. 8 billion was approved for the Ministry of Home Affairs and its agencies.

Because of time constraints and without consideration, $5.2 billion was approved for the Guyana Prison Service, $2.7 billion for the Guyana Fire Service, $219 million for the General Register Office and $524 million for the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU).