This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Spanish General Esteban Verastegui, head of a mission of the European Union for the reform of the security sector in the West African country.
Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, General Verastegui gave the assurance that as regards the police, it would be coordination between the nine police corps currently controlled by five different ministries. He said this would be redu c ed to four after the restructuring.
There was need to subsequently give a legal framework to the whole system, with a corps for the maintenance of public order, judicial police, gendarmerie and secret services, he said.
He explained that the gendarmerie, which is currently non-existent, should be cr eated by merging two already existing corps in charge of borders and immigration.
The European mission for the structuring of the security sector in Guinea Bissau will be made up of 40 instructing officers from Spain, Portugal, France, German y , Sweden, and Italy. Other non-European countries, namely Brazil, Canada, Cape V e rde and Angola will also take part in the mission.
General Verastegui deplored the lack of equipment for Guinea Bissau's army which virtually has no infrastructure, few vehicles and poor barracks.
According to the arrangements made by the EU member states, the mission will bec ome operational from the first week of June.
Brussels - 20/05/2008
Pana
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