Security boost for Region 6 as three police stations renovated

Three renovated police stations in Region Six (Upper Corentyne – Berbice) are expected to boost security in the region and provide a better environment for officers to ‘serve and protect’, a statement from Police Headquarters said.

The remodelled stations were commissioned at New Amsterdam, Albion and Whim on Monday by Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn.

“This is an outstanding and a magnificent day for the Guyana Police Force in Berbice itself and the Corentyne Coast in respect of these new facilities,” Minister Benn is quoted as saying in the statement.

The Central Police Station in New Amsterdam was remodelled in 2019 by the government at a total cost of $150 million, while the $74.8 million Albion and $67.6 million Whim police stations were remodelled through the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Citizen Security Strengthening Programme.

All three stations were designed to accommodate a fully functional domestic violence room, juvenile friendly holding area, witness protection room, case management room and system, children friendly area and integrated crime information system and offices.

Additionally, the Central Police Station at New Amsterdam also houses a case management room, a case management system, traffic department, and criminal investigation department.

“A safer country can only be safe if we are willing to impart to give the police and to those in authority, who can take the action to make things safer and better and far more wholesome life and living,” Minister Benn said.

He added that more vehicles have been procured to improve the response time of police officers in the region.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken explained that under the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme, 16 police stations were completed and three are at an advanced stage of completion.