KINGSTON - A significant step in the fight against crime was taken today, January 14, 2016, when the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company (DHBC), under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, commissioned its wireless link with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force.
The commissioning took place at the CID Lab, Eve Leary during a simple ceremony which saw the attendance of Minister of Public Infrastructure, Honourable David Patterson; Minister within the Ministry, Honourable Annette Ferguson; and General Manager of DHBC, Rawlston Adams. Also present were senior representatives of the GPF, including Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, and Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum.
According to Mr. Adams, the establishment of a wireless link with the Police Force was one that had been in the works for more than a year. He said that he had been approached by Superintendent Phillip Azore in 2014 to extend the Demerara Harbour Bridge’s feed. In 2015, Azore’s idea was initiated and work began on the project in 2015. By early December 2015, the project was completed.
The project saw the erection of a 100ft tower at Eve Leary which links the bodies. This tower, Mr. Adams added, was installed in November 2015.
According to Minister Patterson, the partnership between DHBC and GPF was a laudable one. He shared that about $3M was invested by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure towards the wireless link. He stressed that the partnership was one which aimed to make Guyana safer and also to provide a better and safer traffic experience for all road users.
Minister Patterson further said that the Ministry is willing to do whatever it takes to better the lives of Guyanese and will be looking to better its partnership with the Police Force in other ways.
Meanwhile, Crime Chief Blanhum deemed the commissioning a “small yet significant” move. He said that the wireless link would allow live access to cameras strategically placed on both ends of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. He explained that, thus far, the police would have recorded successes thanks to the use of DHBC’s footage.
Mr. Blanhum further expressed hope that the Police Force’s partnership with DHBC would be a continued one and he thanked Mr. Adams for the support given over the years.
Additionally, Commissioner Persaud said that the wireless link went beyond the monitoring of crime; the feed, he said, would also aid the police in its traffic monitoring and traffic control.
“This all might appear simple but this is significant for us. We’re very grateful for the assistance provided here,” Persaud stressed.
The commissioning ceremony also saw the presentation of a 48 inch monitor from DHBC to GPF to monitor the direct feed. There was also a brief demonstration of the link’s capabilities, including the capturing of snapshots of vehicles from live feed; playback of videos; and monitoring of traffic build-up with zoom in functions.
