As demand for translators grows, Police Academy expands foreign language training

Head of the Guyana Police Force Academy, Sonia Herbert, says the institution is strengthening foreign language training and translation capacity, as Guyana continues to experience increased interaction with foreign nationals.

“Because of the influx of foreign nationals and with the oil and gas industry and all the development that is taking place in Guyana we have Spanish and French currently being conducted for ranks in the force so that they can at least have the knowledge of at least one foreign language,” Herbert said during a recent episode of Police Round Up Programme.

Herbert also pointed to ongoing collaboration with international partners to strengthen language capacity.

“Additionally we have a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Brazilian embassy where ranks are studying Portuguese there also,” she said.

Herbert noted that ranks are already becoming proficient in multiple languages, which is improving the force’s ability to respond in multilingual situations, particularly in legal settings.

“At present have a number of ranks across the force who are very much literate in Portuguese, Spanish and pretty soon French.

And they also have the capability to do translations and translate at the court and so on,” she added.

Herbert stressed that this growing translation capacity is essential for investigations and court proceedings involving foreign nationals.

Speaking about the academy’s broader curriculum, Herbert explained that training now goes beyond traditional policing skills to include a range of professional development courses.

“The curriculum is designed in such a way that not only are we focusing on the normal policing courses and programmes that would aid police to better do their jobs day to day but we also include things like computer studies because I realise that there are a lot of ranks across the board that are not computer literate,” she said.

She also highlighted that training in emotional intelligence and conflict management is being prioritised to improve officers’ professionalism and engagement with the public.