-Gov’t ready to receive suggestions from political parties on security
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will receive $1B this year to purchase helicopters to improve its air patrols which will aid in the fight against transnational crime and serve as a deterrent to the establishment of illegal airstrips.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, who made the announcement yesterday, said the funds will be facilitated through the 2008 National Budget slated to be presented in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Guyanese Head of State said while government is committed to fighting crime and pouring the necessary resources into the security forces, Guyanese must understand that sacrifices will have to be made to assist in this regard.

“This year we just put in the budget close to $1B to buy a few helicopters with spotlight and a whole range of equipment, but the money is limited too…,” the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces declared.

“I can understand sometimes the frustration but, people have to make sacrifices — if they want security they cannot say to me they want 50 roads and then spend money on helicopters too,” President Jagdeo contended.

Government had explained that the National Budget will reflect provisions for other areas which the United Kingdom/Government of Guyana security action plan and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Citizens’ Security programmes would not cover.

This will be facilitated through the Guyana Police Force’s capital projects budget and some of the provisions are expected to take care of the marine wing of the force to tackle piracy. More high powered weapons will also be purchased.

The security and defence sector received a record high budgetary allocation of $9.3B in last year’s budget.

Meanwhile, the President in response to calls by opposition political parties for government to present a comprehensive security plan has made it clear that his government is open to suggestions for the current plan.

“We are open to any new suggestions that are not part of the security plan. We are not getting the suggestions; what we are getting from the opposition is a new security plan.”

He said, “It’s not the new plan on paper we need. We need the physical people, more people in the security forces. We need better intelligence but intelligence just doesn’t drop from the sky.”

Government’s anti-crime strategy is fitted into its comprehensive security plan that will serve to enhance the work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) through government’s financial support, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded Citizens’ Security Programme and the Government of Guyana/United Kingdom Security Reform Action Plan (SSRAP)

Several aspects of the SSRAP will be implemented be month-end. Among these are the establishment of a new and expanded criminal intelligence unit that will be fully furnished and equipped with a communication system and commencement of training of local police officers. A British expert is expected in the country by month-end to begin the training aspect. (GINA)