Georgetown : In expressing his concern over the sudden upsurge in crime across the country, Minister of Public Security and Second Vice President Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan explained that one of his first tasks has been to meet most of the Divisional Commanders of the Guyana Police Force to seek solutions on how to address the issue.
The minister revealed some of the issues driving crime as increased drug usage, ready availability of alcohol, juvenile gang activities, decades of unemployment and increased exposure of children to violence in their homes. “A lot of this crime comes about because of the terrible human condition called greed. It recently was seen with some eight cars and a certain person who used to be in high office, and of course there are others who are driven by desperation because they don’t have jobs”. He opined that the search for solutions ought to be driven by how the offenders are nurtured in their communities, and “not the nature of the offence or the quantum of the sentence.”
Some of the recommendations made, according to the minister, which are required in the short-term include more patrols in high crime areas. This will now be enhanced following his initiative to have Community Policing Groups (CPGs) hand over at least 28 vehicles to the police. There will now be a concerted effort to rid the force of rogue ranks who the minister noted that were “disgustingly promoted and retained”. He sounded a warning that a plan will soon be executed with the use of the appropriate technology to apprehend rogue ranks, with the requisite proof to ensure their removal from the service.
He next spoke of bilateral assistance from supporting countries who Minister Ramjattan said, were “hyped up” and understanding of the government’s predicament. The Chinese ambassador has already promised to assist the sector, to the tune of US $4.5 million while the traditional ABC countries have also said that they will continue their support to enhance security throughout Guyana, he added.
The connection between alcohol and increased incidences of drunk driving, the minister said will see the enforcement of the ordinance on places which sell liquor. The premises which are generally open to the public and are not enclosed will be among the first to be targeted.
With regards to piracy, fishermen will be given the capacity to defend themselves, and the minster said that while some have expressed their reservations, others have said however that “they prefer not to be thrown overboard but at least to give a fight”. This fight will also be boosted with communications equipment and GPS gear to give positions if fisher folk come under attack or have any other emergency. All boats will also be registered to better identify vessels with unique numbers or markings.
The communities must get involved and confidence in the police force must be restored, Minister Ramjattan emphasised, hence there will be continued support for CPGs. There will also be a certain level of scrutiny of police stations by civilians the minster said. “I believe that as a matter of principle, once there is civilian scrutiny and the police are instructed that they must give answers when citizens ask station sergeants and so, certain questions it will promote that confidence that the police and community relationship can have”.
Enhanced training for ranks is also on the table for the police, the minister stated as he lauded a community outreach programme initiated by a Commander to enable youths to understand what it entails to be a police rank.
The prison system will be modernised with better infrastructure, while search and surveillance will be improved and staff welfare enhanced. Penal legislation will also be updated, the minister explained, and better training programmes via trade shops will help with the reintegration of prisoners into the wider society. The Guyana Fire Service will continue training of fire fighters and more auxiliary ranks in hinterland locations will be provided.
Road safety will be improved with more training for ranks and youths especially school children, said the minister who gave some statistics to his colleagues in the National Assembly. “Road accidents are the number one cause of deaths of persons between the ages of five to fourteen, in Guyana and the number two cause between persons 18 to 24.”
According to the minister all of the aforementioned will be bolstered by the Citizens Security Programme. The release of the funds for this initiative depend on the hiring of certain staffers such as a project manager, procurement, finance, community action and a monitoring specialist. This process has already started with the aim of fast racking this key programme.
In closing, Minister Ramjattan called on everyone to support this “arduous task”, adding “We can all do it, and I feel that once we put the special effort into it, it can be done and we can have a country that is going to be safer, a country that is going to be far more stable than it presently is, and one in which the citizens are going to feel far more comfortable.”
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