The President stated that Guyana is soon to see "tangible expressions of help", in addition to the advisory services already being given, from other foreign governments in the fight against crime.

He thanked the RCMP for its assistance. The RCMP recently donated a quantity of protective gear to the Police, he said.

Canadian-Guyanese have also donated protective suits to the Police Force.

The President told a news conference at the Office of the President complex that a team from Scotland Yard is expected in Guyana in October to help Guyana in addressing reform issues of the Police Force, such as intelligence gathering and investigation tactics.

Scotland Yard has been working with the Police Force for one-and-a-half year now, Mr. Jagdeo noted.

A series of national consultations on crime begins today at the Ocean View Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara from 18:00 hrs.

Other consultations are to be held in Linden, Essequibo and Berbice.

At his post-Cabinet press briefing Tuesday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that the national consultations are to provide deliberate encounters to investigate the issue of crime and to obtain a feedback from communities that will be immediate beneficiaries of abated crime within Guyana.

A steering committee will be established to guide the consultation and the reports coming out of the sessions will be presented to the President and to the appropriate Parliamentary committees, he said.

President Jagdeo yesterday said he could never give an assurance that there will not be crime in Guyana.

He acknowledged that the nature of crime has changed in the past six months and said Guyana was also hit by "transnational crime".

"For the first time we have an indiscriminate use of heavy weaponry and people shooting at Policemen, something unheard of in our history", he noted,

He also reiterated that the Police Force has to be upgraded.

There has been a crime wave, mainly along the East Coast and in Georgetown since February 23 last, when five dangerous men, who are still on the run, escaped from the Georgetown Prison, killing a prison guard and seriously wounding another.

Eight Policemen have been shot dead in the rampage and several citizens, including business people, have been killed and seriously wounded.

On June 7, President Jagdeo announced that the Government will be spending $100M to acquire weapons and protective gear for the Police.

However, he has since said that the required items will now cost double that amount.