Tiger Bay is next target for Police Impact Project

 

By Leroy Smith

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Guyana Police Force Impact Project will soon be rolled out in Rosemary Lane, Tiger Bay and already there are moves to identify community leaders, who will serve as the link between the police and the community.

Recently, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken, Deputy Commander Dion Moore, Traffic Officer Calvin Brutus and Complaints Officer Assistant Superintendent Cristal Robinson visited the community and held a three hours walkabout where they met with residents.

The community, unlike previous encounters with the police was very accommodating of the police ranks and even joined them on their walkabout.

The police ranks told the residents that unlike the arrangement in Albouystown where the police have a presence almost 24 hours, that will not be the arrangement in Rosemary Lane also known as Tiger Bay.

The officers told the residents that based on the assessment of the area, it was found that there is no need for the police to have a fulltime presence in the community.

Hicken told the residents that the police force is working to ensure that there is no longer the confrontational type of policing unless it is absolutely necessary.

The meeting saw the commander tasking the community with identifying persons who will organise others to be part of the Impact project.

Hicken agreed to ensure the rehabilitation of the Community Centre located in the area which residents said was not very safe to inhabit. The first major step in the collaboration between the police and the community will be this coming Sunday when the police from A Division will lead a high level team into the community along with other junior ranks to conduct a community outreach.

All the programs of the Impact Project which are to be indoors including teaching and other classes will be done in the community centre building in Rosemary Lane.

The young people of the community even asked the commander to assist with the establishment of a unified and structured football team. They pointed out that they do have players but no sponsors, proper practice area or gears. Hicken committed to adopting the Rosemary Lane Football team.

The police were accompanied into the village by officers of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.