$220M for new CANU HQ as $44B cleared for Home Affairs Ministry

The Parliamentary Committee of Supply on Friday evening approved spending in the sum of $44.8 billion for the Ministry of Home Affairs, just under half of the total $90.6 billion allocated to the security sector in 2024.

It included sums for the Guyana Police Force ($30.3 billion), the Guyana Fire Service ($4.3 billion) and the Guyana Prison Service ($6.5 billion).

Importantly, subject minister, Robeson Benn disclosed that monies were also included to construct new headquarters for the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit ($220 million) and for the Criminal Investigation Department ($80M).

Additionally, $1 billion was approved to start construction on the new Brickdam Police Station Headquarters.

Minister Benn spoke about large sums for training across the disciplined services and monies to carry out further registration of late births and deaths this year.

Some $250 million is budgeted for ranks of the Guyana Police Force to undergo local and regional training. In the Prison Service, $140.2 million was approved to train and rehabilitate 1,600 inmates in various areas along with 450 officers who will undergo training in prison management.

Another $30 million were approved to train fire officers and build human resource capacity in the Guyana Fire Service.

A total of $123 million was approved for Community Policing Groups, $78.3 million for the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), $90 million for the forensic laboratory and $4.3 million to renovate the Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia.

Additionally, the National Road Safety Council will receive $10 million to support the government’s work of reducing road accidents and road deaths.
Benn told the committee that the monies were being spent to ensure modern security architecture.

Notably, under questioning from former Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, it was revealed that $278 million approved for payment of rates and taxes to the Georgetown City Council in 2023 were not paid while another $278 million was being requested this year.

“Why wasn’t it paid?” Ramjattan quizzed.

“We didn’t get to do it because of other exigencies,” Benn responded.

The total $90.6 billion for the security sector is an increase from the $72.6 billion that was expended by the sector in 2023.