Guyana’s Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan  on Monday, 21 November, zeroed in on the need to address  Community citizens’ perception of the security and law enforcement sector. The Minister was delivering remarks to the  official opening of the  Seventeenth Meeting of the Council for Security and Law Enforcement at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.

 According to him, it was necessary to change the perception that “the security and law enforcement sector is populated purely for predatory purposes”.  Recommending programmes to create champions on the  ground as an approach, the minister said -

“We have to lead our people out of that negative habit which teaches that crime and corruption is culture… they are  bad choices that must never be condoned and  for which citizens must  speak out against…”.

The minister called on the CONSLE to construct  projects of hope and trust and to secure freedom from violence and fear. This he noted would provide an opportunity  for our people to flourish and thrive and to do so in peace.

The one-day meeting, being chaired by  Barbados’ Attorney-General and Minister of  Home Affairs, Hon. Adriel Brathwaite, Q.C. MP, will consider for approval   the CARICOM Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Action Plan (CCSCAP). This  plan provides a framework through which all initiatives of cyber security and cyber crime in the Region will be developed, implemented and managed.

 Member States Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPS), including measures to ensure that national and regional security is not compromised by such programmes; among other issues, will also engage the attention of the Region’s Ministers responsible for national security.

“The Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) is responsible for the coordination of the Region’s multi-dimensional security agenda , to ensure a safe and stable Community”.