Skip to main content

Reply to "Crime Tracker Guyana, since May 2015"

Source Guyana Times

Police mark 176th anniversary amidst rising crime rate

…Minister Ramjattan fazed by challenge

 

 

By Michael Younge

Vice President and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, on Saturday morning, took a salute from junior and senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force as the entity kick started activities to celebrate its 176th anniversary of serving the public, at a time when domestic crime is spiraling out of control.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

Ramjattan, decked out in a suit, took the salute as ranks marched pass the Public Security Ministry of Public Security on Brickdam. Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud received also his salute on Young Street, Eve Leary.
The parade, which was led by Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken, moved off from Police Headquarters, Eve Leary at 06:00h heading east onto Young Street, south onto Parade Street, east onto Lamaha Street, south onto Waterloo Street, east onto Regent Street, south onto Camp Street, west onto Brickdam, north onto Avenue of the Republic, east onto Church Street, north back onto Camp Street, west to Young Street and back to the Police Headquarters.
The route march featured ranks from all divisions, while the resources of the force such as their tools of trade are placed on display.
Ramjattan joined in the celebrations which will continue through the month of July with several activities aimed at highlighting the gains made by the Police Force here since its establishment.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud recommitted the Guyana Police Force towards tackling the scourge of crime, telling ranks following the march that the time for excuses was over as more and more resources were becoming available to the entity to make Guyana safer.
He called on ranks to become more professional and accountable as they execute their constitutional and lawful manner, as he underscored the urgent need for policemen to rid the society of elements and individuals which have no interest in abiding by the laws of the country.
Persaud took time out to congratulate the serving members of the force for their performance during the past elections period, which he said was a “critical” time.
He expressed the view that the ranks performed well and got through the period which proved to be very trying if one considers all that took place. The Police Commissioner made these comments despite the fact that the crime rate sky rocketed under his tenure during the first half of the year.
Additionally, the Commissioner failed to directly address the concerns of the public about the hike in crimes over the past few weeks, despite assurances from Minister Ramjattan that the Government and the Police had embarked on a “strategic” approach to fighting crime.
In fact, following public pressure, Minister Ramjattan admitted that to solve the current crime situation a herculean effort was needed, admitting also that the new Government may have underestimated the weight and gravity of the situation before gaining access to office.
Back in 2011 and 2012, Minister Ramjattan, who was an opposition politician, had severely criticised the then Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for not doing enough to control the crime rate in the country.
Ramjattan had lambasted Rohee and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic for failing the people and not being able to properly administer his responsibilities as security Minister.
It’s just two months now that Ramjattan has been appointed as Guyana’s Public Security Minister and already he is facing the same criticisms as Rohee from an inpatient citizenry anxious to relish the joy of a safe and secure society.
Thus far, there have been over 25 murders recorded since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government took office. Several murders are still unsolved and, even with recent shift around of senior police ranks, the Government said it is hoping to solve them as soon as possible.
One of the most recent shooting is that at Nandy Park where known criminal Travis Rudder’s body was riddled with bullets, while his 18-month-old son and girlfriend injured. The Police claimed that that they are working with leads but they have failed to arrest anyone in connection with the murder of the young man and the attempted murder of the others.
Only on Saturday morning, the Police highlighted that Charles Caesar, 40 of Line Path, Skeldon was found at on the foreshore at No. 66 Village, Corentyne, with a suspected gunshot injury. In addition, they have reported that four men armed with firearms entered a house at Bush Lot, Corentyne, and held up several occupants and took away a total of $100,000 and a quantity of jewellery. A teenager also was shot and injured as the gunmen discharged a cartridge when they were leaving to ward off persons who might want to go after them.
In light of the crime wave, Ramjattan highlighted that some of the measures that will be put in place to tackle this problem are an increase in patrols, the acquisition of adequate resources to properly equip policemen, provide necessary training, and bettering community-Police relationships.
The previous administration has spent billions of dollars to correct these deficiencies, but crime continued. Ramjattan is maintaining that the crime rate cannot be reduced immediately, but in fact, a long-term plan is needed to curb the scourge.
Additionally, there are approximately 164 recommendations which were produced by the Discipline Forces Commission and are there to guide reform of the Force. There are also a set of proposals made by the former PPP/C administration on crime and reforms as well as a 15-point plan put forward by former President Donald Ramotar.

FM
×
×
×
×
×
×