Cops aprenden Español

Spanish has been added to the police training curriculum in order to prepare members of the force to better offer service and protection to the growing number of Spanishspeaking migrants in Guyana.

According to the Guyana Police Force, the initiative, which started in July of this year, is being taught by lecturers from both Guyana and overseas at the three police colleges, which are located in Georgetown, Berbice and Essequibo.

Police Force spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan said the syllabus, which focuses on the fundamental aspects of the Spanish language, is being taught throughout the recruit training courses. It is compulsory. He also noted that it is envisaged that the Valedictorian of the next recruit graduation will deliver his/her speech in Spanish.

Ramlakhan said too that Senior Superintendent Fizal Karimbaksh, who is the acting Force Training Officer, and Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus, who is the Commandant of the Felix Austin Police College in Georgetown, revealed that the force’s administration sees the new subject as appropriate, given the increasing influx of Spanish-speaking nationals entering Guyana. They said the continuing influx places members of the force at a disadvantage at various border locations due to language barriers. With the implementation of this programme, it is expected that ranks will be positioned to better communicate and deal with such cases, which in turn will assist them in more efficiently and effectively discharging their duties, while delivering quality service to all.