The Disciplined Forces Commission has written the National Assembly asking for an extension of the deadline for its final report which is due today.
Secretary Gino Persaud yesterday said that the Commission is still to hold further hearings in Berbice and it is also awaiting additional information requested of the forces, hence the delay in the completion of the report.
Parliament set up the Commission to review and make recommendations for the reform of the structure and operations of the disciplined forces. Evidence has been taken from the public and from the disciplined forces - the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Fire Service - to inform the Commission's final recommendations which will be submitted to the Assembly.
Persaud said a funding problem was the reason why the commission's trip to Berbice has been delayed. He explained that funds for the trip were only released by Government in the third week of the last month.
As a result, the visits to Berbice are planned for next Thursday and Friday. On Thursday hearings will be hosted at the Corriverton Town Hall between 1-5 pm in the afternoon, while on Friday hearings are planned at Williamsburg from 9-2 pm. On Friday the Commission will also visit the New Amsterdam Prison.
Another reason for the extension that was cited by Persaud is the sluggish response by the police force, the fire service and the army, from whom additional information was requested. Information was received from the army about a week and a half ago, while both the police force and the fire service, though acknowledging the requests, have yet to comply.
Thus unable to conclude its deliberations and produce a report to meet the March 18 deadline, a letter was sent to the Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran, seeking the extension.
In December, the Commission submitted to the National Assembly, an interim report for the reform of the Police Force. In the report, they recommended that the Government draft a five-year development plan for the force to assist their deliberations for the final report.
But the report is still to be discussed by the Assembly, which held its first sitting for the year on Monday. (Andre Haynes)