The sum of $34.4 billion has been set aside in the 2025 National Budget to enhance the visibility and responsiveness of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
The amount forms part of the total of $108.7 billion which has been earmarked for the security sector this year.
Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh made this revelation as he presented the National Budget to the National Assembly on Friday.
With several major infrastructural projects ongoing, to build, upgrade and rehabilitate police stations and other facilities, the sum of $4.7 billion has been allocated to meet the force’s infrastructural needs.
Among the projects are the construction of the new Brickdam Police station for which $1.7 billion is budgeted and the construction and completion of several police stations in the various policing divisions.
To enhance the existing fleet, the sum of $2 billion has been earmarked to further expand the vehicles.
Further, to build a more effective deployment of smart technology, another $6.2 billion is allocated for the continuation of the Safe Country Initiative, including the procurement of 320 Intelligent Video Surveillance (IVS) sites.
While, $250 million has been set aside for training of more than 1,700 ranks in specialised areas including scene management, cybersecurity, forensic video analysis, among others.
“In 2025, the Force will actively seek to enhance its training programmes through collaborations with the New York Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
“These formalised arrangements will focus on specialised training in areas such as community policing strategies, gender-based violence response and homicide investigations to elevate the professional expertise and operational effectiveness of ranks,” Dr Singh said.
While, as the government seeks to forge greater partnerships between citizens and the Police, $156.6 million is budgeted for the formation of additional forty-five community policing groups.
This year’s allocation towards the Police Force is an increase, compared to the $30.3 billion allocated in 2024.
