Dedicated to Jagdeo, Luncheon ... Rohee releases two more books on his tenure
Written by Michel Outridge
Thursday, 13 October 2011 03:26
Source - GINA
‘THE WRITER SPEAKS’: Minister Clement Rohee speaking at the launching ceremony for his books on Tuesday afternoon. Seated at head-table, from left are: Member of the National Commission on Law and Order, Mr. Tajnauth Jadnauth; Major General (ret’d) Norman Mc Lean; Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn; and Police Commissioner Henry Greene.
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee released two more of his books and dedicated them to President Bharrat Jagdeo and Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon.
The writer said the dedication to the two top functionaries was for their unbroken support to the security sector and his ministry.
The publications, a collection of speeches on Bills, Motions and Debates in the National Assembly, were released at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown.
They consist of 29 bills, five motions, two debates and 63 speeches penned by Rohee, who also authored ‘Guyana: A bed of Thorns’, co-authored with Dr. Cheddi Jagan; ‘Facing the Challenges, Reform the European Union Sugar Regime’, and ‘Those Days and Guyana’s Foreign Policy – Towards the 21st Century.’
In his remarks at the event on Tuesday, the Home Affairs Minister said the release of the two volumes should not be seen, in any way, as anything to do with the upcoming general and regional elections.
“It is to keep the Guyanese people informed with regards to what is happening at both the Government and Parliament levels,” the minister insisted.
He reasoned that, once a negative view circulates in the public domain, it becomes necessary to offer clarity, otherwise the public will be misled. Hence the books, which document the roles and activities of the security sector.
Rohee acknowledged that the security sector is a very complex one and attracts a lot of criticism and recalled reading from “experts”, who spoke of a total breakdown of law and order in Guyana, a criticism which he said is permissible in a democratic society.
The Home Affairs Minister said Guyana has come a far way from the state of unrest that obtained in the 1960s and has not experienced such a recurrence to date.
He agreed that there are issues and challenges that arise from time to time but occur during the maintenance of peace and good order.
EQUALLY MATCHED
Rohee explained that the passage of the relevant laws and policy statements were equally matched with efforts to ensure implementation and application for a safer and more secure society and is reflected in the National Budget.
A section of the gathering at the launching of Minister Rohee’s Books. (Sonnel Nelson photos)
He pointed out that, in 1992, the Home Affairs Ministry received $13.4M as compared to this year when it got an allocation of “a whopping” $1.9 billion.
Rohee referred to the successes of the Citizens Security Programme, establishment of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, commencement of polygraphing of members of law enforcement agencies and expansion of community policing as four of the major achievements in the sector under his leadership.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, who offered a review of the book ‘Our Public Security Legislative Agenda’, spoke about the sector’s legislative agenda in detail.
He said the book is an important one which is a ready source of archival material, fundamental to the national progress as it relates to issues of security.
In his view Major General (ret’d) Norman Mc Lean said the book ‘Securing Our Nation’ indicated that Rohee served with great distinction which is reflected in his work through the books he authored despite the challenges of being one of the longest serving Ministers of Home Affairs, since his appointment in 2006.
Mc Lean added that the writings portray Rohee’s passion for which he commended him, as well as his unwavering contribution to ensuring the maintenance of public safety and security.
Police Commissioner Henry Greene complimented the minister and said, during his tenure in office from 2006 to date, while working with Rohee, one of the things he admired about him is his insistence in getting it right, doing it right, monitoring it right and recording it right.
“Today his attitude is portrayed in the records of his work in and out of Parliament. He is known as a person of standard, who insists that things should be done in a certain manner. I have watched the growth and development of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the employment of improved staffing, generally, recordings of events by way of pictures and videos,” Greene observed.
He said, in other words, the minister is a person who insists on recording history and keeping some sort of record of what is happening and the books launching, which reflects his work and service, was not a surprise event.
IMPORTANT LAWS
The Commissioner said, in Parliament, Rohee pushed through so many important laws, particularly for the Force, which is heartening to know. There are recordings and policemen and law persons who will be guided by the two volumes.
Greene said: “I recall when the crisis gripped us with the likes of Rondell Rawlins called ‘Fine Man’, we had many difficulties regarding prosecution. People did not want to come to court and to the identification parades. There were so many issues we faced because of the reprisal from that gang.”
The Top Cop remembered the insistence of the minister, who moved swiftly to Parliament with the accommodation of a number of laws which assisted with regards to aerial reconnaissance, digital telecommunication, the amendment of criminal law procedure which allows for paper committals, reduction of preliminary inquiries and the introduction of plea bargaining, which saw persons, who harbour criminals had their property taken away.
“We also saw where those persons, who use false identification plates on their cars paid fines of up to $2M,” Greene disclosed.
He said Rohee acted quickly to get support for the police to do their work, such as the movement of the identification parade of touching the suspect on the shoulder to the one-way mirror in police stations today.
Greene divulged that, in 2007, there was a situation in this country where traffic was in chaos and the support of the minister was sought for the introduction of the breathalyzer test.
The Commissioner reminded that, in 2008, there was the lowest number of road fatalities in 38 years, all because of the laws introduced and work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
He said a number of other measures were put in place as pieces of legislation were passed in Parliament such as, the Security Sector Reform, which improved the GPF significantly, such as the computing of all reports logged.
Other speakers at the function were Member of the National Commission on Law and Order, Mr. Tajnauth Jadnauth and Home Affairs Ministry Research Officer, Ms. Kavita Bhowani.
Written by Michel Outridge
Thursday, 13 October 2011 03:26
Source - GINA
‘THE WRITER SPEAKS’: Minister Clement Rohee speaking at the launching ceremony for his books on Tuesday afternoon. Seated at head-table, from left are: Member of the National Commission on Law and Order, Mr. Tajnauth Jadnauth; Major General (ret’d) Norman Mc Lean; Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn; and Police Commissioner Henry Greene.MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee released two more of his books and dedicated them to President Bharrat Jagdeo and Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon.
The writer said the dedication to the two top functionaries was for their unbroken support to the security sector and his ministry.
The publications, a collection of speeches on Bills, Motions and Debates in the National Assembly, were released at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown.
They consist of 29 bills, five motions, two debates and 63 speeches penned by Rohee, who also authored ‘Guyana: A bed of Thorns’, co-authored with Dr. Cheddi Jagan; ‘Facing the Challenges, Reform the European Union Sugar Regime’, and ‘Those Days and Guyana’s Foreign Policy – Towards the 21st Century.’
In his remarks at the event on Tuesday, the Home Affairs Minister said the release of the two volumes should not be seen, in any way, as anything to do with the upcoming general and regional elections.
“It is to keep the Guyanese people informed with regards to what is happening at both the Government and Parliament levels,” the minister insisted.
He reasoned that, once a negative view circulates in the public domain, it becomes necessary to offer clarity, otherwise the public will be misled. Hence the books, which document the roles and activities of the security sector.
Rohee acknowledged that the security sector is a very complex one and attracts a lot of criticism and recalled reading from “experts”, who spoke of a total breakdown of law and order in Guyana, a criticism which he said is permissible in a democratic society.
The Home Affairs Minister said Guyana has come a far way from the state of unrest that obtained in the 1960s and has not experienced such a recurrence to date.
He agreed that there are issues and challenges that arise from time to time but occur during the maintenance of peace and good order.
EQUALLY MATCHED
Rohee explained that the passage of the relevant laws and policy statements were equally matched with efforts to ensure implementation and application for a safer and more secure society and is reflected in the National Budget.
A section of the gathering at the launching of Minister Rohee’s Books. (Sonnel Nelson photos)He pointed out that, in 1992, the Home Affairs Ministry received $13.4M as compared to this year when it got an allocation of “a whopping” $1.9 billion.
Rohee referred to the successes of the Citizens Security Programme, establishment of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, commencement of polygraphing of members of law enforcement agencies and expansion of community policing as four of the major achievements in the sector under his leadership.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, who offered a review of the book ‘Our Public Security Legislative Agenda’, spoke about the sector’s legislative agenda in detail.
He said the book is an important one which is a ready source of archival material, fundamental to the national progress as it relates to issues of security.
In his view Major General (ret’d) Norman Mc Lean said the book ‘Securing Our Nation’ indicated that Rohee served with great distinction which is reflected in his work through the books he authored despite the challenges of being one of the longest serving Ministers of Home Affairs, since his appointment in 2006.
Mc Lean added that the writings portray Rohee’s passion for which he commended him, as well as his unwavering contribution to ensuring the maintenance of public safety and security.
Police Commissioner Henry Greene complimented the minister and said, during his tenure in office from 2006 to date, while working with Rohee, one of the things he admired about him is his insistence in getting it right, doing it right, monitoring it right and recording it right.
“Today his attitude is portrayed in the records of his work in and out of Parliament. He is known as a person of standard, who insists that things should be done in a certain manner. I have watched the growth and development of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the employment of improved staffing, generally, recordings of events by way of pictures and videos,” Greene observed.
He said, in other words, the minister is a person who insists on recording history and keeping some sort of record of what is happening and the books launching, which reflects his work and service, was not a surprise event.
IMPORTANT LAWS
The Commissioner said, in Parliament, Rohee pushed through so many important laws, particularly for the Force, which is heartening to know. There are recordings and policemen and law persons who will be guided by the two volumes.
Greene said: “I recall when the crisis gripped us with the likes of Rondell Rawlins called ‘Fine Man’, we had many difficulties regarding prosecution. People did not want to come to court and to the identification parades. There were so many issues we faced because of the reprisal from that gang.”
The Top Cop remembered the insistence of the minister, who moved swiftly to Parliament with the accommodation of a number of laws which assisted with regards to aerial reconnaissance, digital telecommunication, the amendment of criminal law procedure which allows for paper committals, reduction of preliminary inquiries and the introduction of plea bargaining, which saw persons, who harbour criminals had their property taken away.
“We also saw where those persons, who use false identification plates on their cars paid fines of up to $2M,” Greene disclosed.
He said Rohee acted quickly to get support for the police to do their work, such as the movement of the identification parade of touching the suspect on the shoulder to the one-way mirror in police stations today.
Greene divulged that, in 2007, there was a situation in this country where traffic was in chaos and the support of the minister was sought for the introduction of the breathalyzer test.
The Commissioner reminded that, in 2008, there was the lowest number of road fatalities in 38 years, all because of the laws introduced and work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
He said a number of other measures were put in place as pieces of legislation were passed in Parliament such as, the Security Sector Reform, which improved the GPF significantly, such as the computing of all reports logged.
Other speakers at the function were Member of the National Commission on Law and Order, Mr. Tajnauth Jadnauth and Home Affairs Ministry Research Officer, Ms. Kavita Bhowani.
