The national security sector would be significantly boosted through the clinching of an four-year agreement with the British Government yesterday to provide three million pounds (Sterling) for the implementation of a far reaching reform programme that provides for rapid response to crime, forensics, and crime intelligence.

The agreement was signed between British High Commissioner Mr. Fraser Wheeler and Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon at the Presidential Complex, New Garden Street, Georgetown.

"The UK Government will now identify and deploy technical expertise here to start to strengthen the crime intelligence capability of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and build a uniformed rapid response to serious crime," Wheeler said.

Wheeler said the agreement was an interim one, noting that the UK Government will be sending experts to do "some further detailed work on how the action plan will be implemented and funded."

Despite the "interimness" of the agreement, Dr. Luncheon said in the eyes of the government it was a "solid foundation" for reform in the security sector.

Mr. Wheeler said the action plan comprises five elements:

* Building the operational capacity of the GPF, from the provision of a uniformed response to serious crime, to forensics, crime intelligence and traffic policing;

* Strengthen policy making across the security sector to make it more transparent, effective and better coordinated;

* Mainstreaming financial management in the security sector into public sector financial management reform;

* Creating substantial Parliamentary and other oversight of the sector

* Building greater public participation and inclusiveness on security sector issues

With the agreement signed, the government will now table in Parliament the summary of the action plan by October 31 this year and also Parliamentary Select Committees will be set up to look at the Disciplined Forces Commission Report and review the implementation of the action plan.

Wheeler said he had no doubt that the full implementation of the action plan will deliver very significant positive changes to Guyana.

He said it will provide substantial additional security to the people and also increase the confidence of foreign and domestic businesses to invest in their economy, He added that through strengthened transparency and accountability open governance would be enhanced.

"Perhaps, above all, the combination of these effects will contribute to reversing the brain-drain from this country, and would therefore help to allow Guyana to develop to its full potential," Wheeler reiterated.