| Applications for passports, police clearances, and firearm and traffic licences will not be accepted during the hosting of Carifesta, as all ranks will be deployed on the streets to provide adequate protection for citizens and foreigners.This is being done even as Trinidad and Tobago prepares to send a four-man bomb squad to Guyana to provide additional security. The bomb squad from Trinidad will arrive in Guyana tomorrow.With three more days to go before the grand opening of Carifesta X, negotiations are ongoing with the Government of Trinidad and the Regional Security System (RSS) for additional support.Kaieteur News learnt yesterday that additional support is being garnered for the acquisition of air protection.Yesterday, the Security Committee for Carifesta hosted a briefing,Wholesale Jerseys Online, outlining the National Security Plan for Carifesta.Speaking at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Commissioner of Police (ag), Henry Greene, said that the Police Force headquarters will do ‘very little book work,’ since ranks are expected to be on the streets.This is being done, he said, so as to ensure that adequate security is provided at all venues.He said that security arrangements and escorts from the airport have already begun.Beginning last Friday, the Commissioner pointed out, there has been an increased in the number of armed foot patrols deployed at specific areas around the city. The entire objective is to ensure that adequate mobile patrols are out on the streets, he said.“We will be having joint operations and are expecting full support from the community policing groups. We,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, the police and the Joint Services, stand ready to provide the relevant protection,Jerseys From China Online,” the Commissioner said.Highlighting the Guyana Defence Force and the Joint Services’ plans for Carifesta, Chief of Staff Gary Best told the media that the mission of the Joint Services is to protect the State against violent criminal and domestic terrorist activities.“We have launched operation ‘WARDEN’…and operation ‘Restore Order’ has now been subsumed in this operation. We continue to maintain our activities with Joint Services Operation Group, which was established particularly to hunt down violent criminals and have them arrested and brought to justice,” he said.That group, he added, will intensify its work over this period.There will also be a special counter-terrorism group, which is now being trained to deal with any acts of domestic terrorism at any of the stipulated venues.“This group has been drawn from the Guyana Defence Force…The main highways (during Carifesta) in Guyana will have ‘control points,’ so that traffic passing through will go through a deliberate process of all vehicles being searched.”He advised that persons leave their homes early for the Carifesta destinations, since they will have to be part of a routine search.“We will dominate the front lands and the backlands to ensure that there is no harbouring of criminals in those areas…We will make ourselves available to ensure that we have maximum force out there to deal with the security threats over this period.”The prison, he said, will focus internally on lock down procedures during this period, control activities and the dissemination of accurate information to the prison population.The Joint Services, which have been deployed across Guyana, will also have air and sea patrol.Meanwhile, Chairman of the Security Committee and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, told the gathering yesterday that the security plan was decided upon following 10 months of work.“Security is everybody’s concern, including that of the State…Whether we are having a Carifesta or not, security remains a major concern…because of the event, it is only natural that additional and value-added security measures ought to be put in place.”The environment for hosting Carifesta is very conducive and appropriate, notwithstanding what may have been the opinion of others some months ago, Rohee said.The political opposition, he pointed out, has toned down their anti-Carifesta rhetoric and actions.This, he said, is something that is welcome.“The security environment remains complex…We intend in no way to simplify the situation…We should characterize it as complex, but at the same time we have to recognise that security has been tightened under control by the state security agencies, together with the Joint Services.”Notwithstanding the fact that the security situation remains complex,Cheap Jerseys From China Online, the minister said, the fact of the matter is that, for the purposes of Carifesta, there is a plan to match and to deal with these complexities.He added that defeating any threats, small or large to national security, during the period of Carifesta is an overriding consideration.“The criminal enterprise still remains under the target of State security agencies, and are still being targeted; so let no one believe that, while the state security agencies are focusing on Carifesta, they are being distracted or diverted from what they would have normally been doing in order to deal with a matter which we Guyanese have been seeking to address over the past months.”The domestic threats to the security are under the radar of these agencies, and will not be either underestimated or overestimated, Rohee said.“I have no doubt that the state of Guyana is ready to host Carifesta…I believe that there is no greater honour for our country than to host a highly successful Carifesta and to ensure that all enjoy each activity.”When asked if Trinidad and Tobago is the only country providing assistance to Guyana, the minister added that that was the only Caricom country that the Government approached for support.Crime Control PlanHighlighting aspects of the National Security Plan for Carifesta, Assistant Commissioner for Law Enforcement, Seelall Persaud,Cheap Jerseys Online, said that ranks will be provided with communication radios and hand set ports during the period of Carifesta. They will also be armed whenever it is necessary, he said.The Cheddi Jagan International Airport will be the main port of entry. There are arrangements in place to control crime that will target foreign visitors, he added.“Ranks will be on site at the airport to avoid any confusion by ‘black caps and illegal money changers.’ Escorts will be provided, whenever necessary, from the airport to places of accommodation.” Moleson Creek, Persaud said, will be used as a sea port for visitors coming from Suriname.“Mobile patrols, both in uniform and plainclothes, will be on patrol on a 24-hour basis, and will,China Jerseys Online, from time to time, be transitioned into road blocks. At places of accommodation, there will be addi From page 3tional security arrangements.“At places of accommodation where VIP’s are staying there will be a sweeping for explosives.” At events locations, a bomb sweep will be done prior to the events, and there will be security arrangements in place to maintain sanity. Bomb disposal capabilities will be in place in the case of bomb threats.“Close protection will be provided for VIP’s and Heads of States that will be attending the event.” Popular nightspots, restaurants and bars will be visited by mobile patrols, he added.“Commercial areas will have foot patrols and mobile patrols. Anti-kidnapping teams will be activated and housed at the Carifesta Secretariat throughout Carifesta, and they will be able to respond in the event of such reports.”Each division, he told the media, will have a special team to investigate matters involving foreigners. That is to have those matters expedited in the interest of justice. Night Court is part of those justice arrangements to have the cases tried expeditiously.” (Tusika Martin) |
