CPG needs to be reexamined

I urge Minister Rohee to reexamine the CPG (Community Policing Group) programs and congratulate him in acknowledging there is some disconnect between CPGs and the community they serve.

Under careful analysis one would find CPG to be a flawed concept that would lead to disconnect among the communities they serve (which is happening right now) and predict they would also be disconnected from the Govt they serve.

CPGs can only work if they are governed by a strong law enforcement body, and if there is a strong law enforcement body we would not need the CPG as it exists today. We would only need bridges between the community and the Police, therefore making every law abiding citizen part of the CPG.

CPG can only work if they are given a lot of support financially and structurally, also lots of training. Again those are valuable resources that the legitimate law enforcers; the police are competing for and deserve.

I am not aware of anywhere else in the world where CPG is being used in the same manner we are today in Guyana; sure some might point to CPG implemented in the US and the Caribbean, but that is in collaboration with a strong law enforcement structure. The GPF desperately needs restructuring before we can address CPGs. I would not go far enough to suggest this is a premise for civil war because the needs of Guyanese have risen beyond the physiological level; however CPG is an avenue that will lead to the abuse of legitimate power.

I am sure CPG have worked in some areas and provide a valuable service to those residents, however it is a poor substitution for legitimate and responsible law enforcement. I would also like to thank those who are members of CPGs and continue to fight the good fight. I encourage you all to demand reforms within the Guyana Police Force, for we are all members of our own CPG.

Asif Mohamed