The advancement of Guyana’s human resource is equally important as boosting its infrastructural capacity. So says former Public Security Minister and Alliance for Change (AFC) legislator, Khemraj Ramjattan.
The veteran politician made the point during his contribution to the Budget 2025 debate being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
Ramjattan argued that the proposed sum to train officers, particularly those who will need specialised training in more sophisticated disciplines, is disproportionate to the billions being pitched to improve infrastructure.
The former AFC leader noted that it would be unwise to spend billions to build new police stations and other facilities without ensuring that the workers who will staff them are not provided with the skills.
The proposed budget does however include a sum for training.
The Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, during the budget presentation on January 17, said that training “remains a critical focus” within the security sector.
He said that over 9,000 police ranks are receiving skills training to improve their capabilities in crime prevention and investigation. A budget of $250 million is set for specialised training in 2025, including partnerships with international law enforcement agencies.
Ramjattan, however, labelled the sum as insignificant, comparing it to a whopping $1.7 billion being proposed to support ongoing construction of the Brickdam Police Station. That sum falls within the total allocation of $4.7 billion to address the infrastructural needs of the police force.
Ramjattan said that at least 10 per cent of the overall security budget should be allocated solely for training.
“We cannot leave out the human element,” he stressed, adding that more training should also be provided to cater for “new” types of crimes.
