Guyana: The role of the the Guyana Police Force's Divisional Community Policing Groups; information on how members are selected and whether this group is armed, trained and paid; whether this group commits human rights violations and whether group members are targetted by criminals (2002-April 2004)

According to news sources, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has promoted the idea of community policing since 1976 when the People's National Congress (PNC) party was the government of the day (Guyana Chronicle 10 June 2002; ibid. 15 Apr. 2004). Commonly referred to as Community Policing Groups, they were originally developed to assist the GPF to combat widespread criminal activity (ibid.). Beginning in 1992, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) government also supported these groups with the introduction of formal supervision, training and supplying of weapons (ibid.). With regard to mandate, according to government sources, Community Policing Groups act as the "eyes and ears" for the GPF, and Guyana government records reportedly demonstrate their effectiveness in combating crime in various communities (Guyana 8 Aug. 2003; ibid. 25 Jan. 2004). As of April 2004, "[m]any belonging to these community groups spend two or three nights a week, depending on the size of the defence group, patrolling village streets and ensuring that all is well" (Guyana Chronicle 15 Apr. 2004). Community Policing Group members have also been called upon to work as rural constables (Guyana 17 Apr. 2003).

Statistics on the number of Community Policing Groups in existence vary widely, with estimates ranging from about 100 (Guyana 8 Aug. 2003) to 400 groups (Guyana Chronicle 16 Sept. 2003) that were operating across the country as of September 2003. The groups are reportedly made up of volunteers (Guyana Chronicle 15 Apr. 2004; GHRA 19 Apr. 2004), however as of September 2003, the government was apparently providing some training, equipment and support from local police divisions (Guyana 17 Apr. 2003; ibid. 16 Jan. 2004). For example, at the inauguration of the Central Mackenzie Policing Group in Linden, Upper Demerara/Berbice, the Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj stated that this new group would receive training in how to properly use firearms, how to write statements, how to give evidence, and so on (Guyana Chronicle 16 Sept. 2003).

Information about the selection process for Community Policing Group members was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The Co-President of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) mentioned in a 19 April 2004 telephone interview that policing group members are volunteers from the community, and while he was not certain of the details of the selection process, he believed it was not very rigorous.

In 2003, as part of the government's list of measures taken to combat crime in Guyana, the Police Commissioner's Office established a Community Policing Group Unit (Guyana 17 Apr. 2003; ibid. 8 Aug. 2003). This unit was created to work as a liaison between the GPF and the Community Policing Groups across the country (ibid. 17 Apr. 2003). In January 2004, the President of Guyana also pledged to strengthen policing groups with more training and improved firearms (ibid. 25 Jan. 2004), while a March 2004 report noted that the Minister of Home Affairs had been tasked by Cabinet to ensure that these groups would be better supported by the GPF (Guyana Chronicle 25 Mar. 2004).

With respect to the issues of human rights violations and the targeting of the Community Policing Groups by criminals, the GHRA Co-President provided the following information in a 16 April 2004 telephone interview; the GHRA has received a number of credible complaints about the functioning of Community Policing Groups; these complaints tend to focus on the group's inefficiency in performing its role in the community and their improper handling of firearms; the policing groups have also been known to commit violent acts that border on vigilantism, against persons suspected of criminal activity.

In addition, the policing groups tend to be politically aligned and the recent push by government to rehabilitate these groups has come about only due to complaints about their poor performance. On the other hand, the GHRA has never received complaints of Community Policing Group members being the targets of criminals.

Corroborating information about whether these groups commit human rights violations and whether criminals target group members could not be found within time constraints.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Guyana. 25 January 2004. Office of the President. "President Urges Annandale Residents Not to Become Complacent - Assures that Government is Not Asleep on Crime Situation." [Accessed 15 Apr. 2004]

____. 16 January 2004. Government Information Agency. "Region Four Representatives, Police, Address Crime Situation on the East Coast." [Accessed 15 Apr. 2004]

____. 8 August 2003. Government Information Agency. "Community Policing Groups Are Vital in the Fight Against Crime." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2004]

____. 17 April 2003. Guyana Information Agency. "Measures Implemented by Government to Combat the Crime Situation." [Accessed 15 Apr. 2004]

Guyana Chronicle [Georgetown]. 15 April 2004. "They Have Proven Their Worth." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2004]

____. 25 March 2004. Chamanlall Naipaul. "Cabinet Laments Resurgence of Criminal Violence." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2004]

____. 16 September 2003. "Central Mackenzie Launches Policing Group." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2004]

____. 10 June 2002. Shirley Thomas. "McDonald Praises Work of Community Policing Groups." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2004]

Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA). 19 April 2004. Telephone interview with Co-President.

____. 16 April 2004. Telephone interview with Co-President.

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites: Amnesty International, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Stabroek News [Georgetown], World News Connection (WNC).