PPP worried over establishment of Department of Defense under Ministry of the Presidency

The opposition party said it is dismayed by these developments in the Security Sector which have come to light during the course of the consideration of the estimates of the 2016 budget.

PPP worried over establishment of Department of Defense under Ministry of the Presidency

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has expressed worry over the establishment of a Department of Defense at the Ministry of Presidency.

The opposition party said it is dismayed by these developments in the Security Sector which have come to light during the course of the consideration of the estimates of the 2016 budget.

The PPP highlighted that the establishment of this new entity which did not previously exist, is staffed with serving members of the Guyana Defense Force who have been seconded to the civilian-run and administered Ministry of the Presidency.

“As far as the PPP/C is concerned, this disclosure confirms the long held view of the Party that there is an increasing militarization of and within the Granger administration which we have pointed to time and again and which the Granger administration has persistently denied,” the Party added.

A statement further lamented that in addition to this disclosure, a more sad development was the announcement by State Minister Joe Harmon that the Serious Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) will be placed under the Guyana Police Force as an adjunct to the Force to assist in conducting investigations similar to that of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

SOCU was established under the PPP to assist the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in the fight against money laundering.

“This is a major, if not fundamental policy shift and institutional arrangement which will result in worrisome developments and implications for the fight against money laundering,” the Party commented.

The Party called on the Donor Community to pay special attention to this development. “Disclosures and answers to questions from the opposition benches with respect to the re-establishment of the People’s Militia were not forthcoming to the satisfaction of the opposition irrespective of the series of questions posed in respect to the allocation of resources for the newly re-establishment uniformed body,” the statement said.

The PPP believes information forthcoming is vague with respect to the sources and the availability of revenues for the purchase of kits, equipment, etc., for the People’s Militia. “From all appearances, it is clear that the role and place of the People’s Militia as well as the source of funds to be at its disposal is shrouded in secrecy and purposely kept from public knowledge,” the statement concluded. The People’s Militia falls under the Guyana Defence Force.

With constant threats from Venezuela, President Granger has indicated the need for a more robust military and defence systems.

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