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Post by jono on May 19, 2006 21:56:10 GMT -5
To get this topic started, I feel it is important to post the AFC's Crime Strategy which in my opinion is quite general and does not address some of the more specific issues such as the drug trade...
The AFC believes that Guyana has sufficient ranks within the police force for Guyana's population size to deal with crime (I take this to mean that they will not seek to bring in outside assistance such as in Trinidad - something that I believe should be considered because of the severity of the situation in Guyana).
The AFC suggests that most of the police force are "bogged down" performing administrative duties that could be contracted out to independent agencies through a series of transparent bidding or transferred to other Government Agencies which will free police officers to fight crime and the drug trade...
The AFC proposes to increase the salary for police and military personal by 50% over a three year period starting with 20% in year 1 (2006) and 30% by July 2009. (this is a great idea since I have been informed that the police in Guyana do not earn sufficient wages and as such, some have been easily tempted to take bribes !!)
The AFC supports the development of an amnesty programme for the surrender of illegal weapons which will be backed by "buy-back" and similar schemes, and the introduction of draconian legislation denying bail to persons found in possession of illegal firearms, and increasing the term of imprisonment from 1 year to 3 years mandatory upon conviction. In addition, licensing procedures will be responsible, transparent and open...(I am all for tougher sentences and harsher penalties to combat crime in Guyana).
Appointment of a Special Crime Unit (SCU) comprising of GDF and GPF personnel and to be headed by a GDF officer on secondment and based in Camp Ayangana.
Appointment of a Drug Enforcement Chief to coordinate and execute drug enforcement policy and programme only and to implement in tandem with the assistance of the DEA and other supporting securty forces.
The AFC proposes to furnish police with the tools to fight crimes including weapons, mobile communications, transportation, a forensic labortatory, fingerprint / criminal behavioral database, weaponry and other necessary material.
International support to police and law enforcement in investigating homicides, narco-trafficking, gun smuggling, and other serious crimes. International agencies wil provide technical assistance and training in 21rst century crime fighting techniques including intelligence gathering and prosecution, and training to deal with the victims of crimes involving violence againist women and children (very important and often overlooked in my opinion !!).
The AFC wants to introdcuce legislation to legitimise and regulate Community Policing and the formation of Citizens Protection Units (CPU's) in keeping with the best practices in North America and Europe.
The AFC wants to appoint Special Prosecutors and Magistrates for selected categories and offences (I agree with this too !!).
The AFC plans to complete the implementation of recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission, Symonds Group Report and CARICOM Task Force on Crime & Security Report
The AFC wants to construct a modern prison within 3 years of taking office and laso new appropriate and humane facilities for women and children, and re-designate the Camp Street jail as a remand centre.
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Post by jono on May 19, 2006 23:58:18 GMT -5
Should we considering hiring a foreign Police Commissioner as is the situation in Trinidad ??
My personal view on this topic is yes simply because I believe it would go a very, very long way towards restoring faith in the Police Department. In addition, a foreign official would no doubt help ease some of the existing tension since they would appear to be more objective in their efforts to deal with crime. I am not suggesting that we lack the ability to deal with our own problems, however the current crime wave and drug trade in Guyana suggests that we need to deal with these issues not only immediately, but in a way that is drastic. I believe that hiring a Police Commissioner from another country will also provide a new perspective on fighting crime and this individual could work in overhauling the Police Department. They could introduce new methods of recruitment & training and would no doubt be able to add invaluable insight and experience as Police Commissioner. I am curious as to what others feel about this so please feel free to share your views...
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Post by jono on May 20, 2006 0:04:27 GMT -5
$50m a year for Scotland Yard officers Darryl Heeralal Tuesday, March 21st 2006 GOVERNMENT will spend more than $50 million a year to hire 39 Scotland Yard officers. However, no arrangements to have them integrated into the local police service have been made yet. Director of the Special Anti-Crime Unit, Brigadier Peter Joseph, said yesterday it would cost 4.5 million pounds sterling to pay and accommodate the 39 officers. This works out to $50,670,000 in local currency. The officers will be paid in pounds sterling and their salaries in the UK will be matched, Joseph said. A constable in the UK earns 32,000 pounds sterling annually (TT$360,320) while a local constable starting out earns an average of $60,000 annually in basic salary. At a press conference at the Ministry of National Security, Port of Spain yesterday, Joseph said the 39 officers will be involved in direct policing and will be assigned to SAUTT. He admitted though that there are "two or three" issues to be "resolved" regarding how the UK officers will function within local police jurisdiction. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has not yet been worked out between the police service and the foreign officers to govern a working relationship and no rank structure has been formalised to deal with the chain of command. While the officers are to be hired under the Special Reserve Police Act, both Joseph and Police Commissioner Trevor Paul are hopeful that the Police Service Bill will be passed in Parliament, giving the CoP the necessary legislative powers to pass on to the UK officers. Under the present law, non-nationals cannot be hired as regular policemen, however, the SRP Act Chapter 15:03 Section 8 does not limit the hiring of reserves to nationals. Joseph said they were waiting on the 39 officers to arrive before a working agreement could be ironed out. He said discussions with the various divisional heads would start soon on the issue of the MOU. Both Joseph and Paul recognised that the absence of a payment and rank structure and the necessary legislation to hire the foreign officers would be cause for concern but they were adamant that the passage of the police bill would iron out the situation. The 39 officers were drafted from Britain's 43 police forces and range in age from 38 and 59 and in rank between constable and a commander in the Metropolitan Police. Joseph said the batch of 39 will be brought here primarily to work alongside the Homicide Bureau and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad as murder and kidnapping are the two major crime problems facing the country. The foreign officers will focus primarily on forensic investigations. "What the injection of these UK law enforcement personnel will do is provide the law enforcement community with a practical application of the modern crime fighting tools and techniques, which we expect to positively impact on our systems and procedures," Joseph said. The first batch of officers are expected to be here at the end of March and will be brought down based on seniority. Dave King, a retired chief superintendent in charge of the UK police operations here, said that this was a unique opportunity for this country. Secretary of the Police Service Association Sgt David Chase that they had concerns over salary payments and whether the presence of the UK officers would affect promotions. Chase said that they were given a guarantee that the Association would be part of the integration process. www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=144705070 |
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Post by jono on May 20, 2006 0:15:24 GMT -5
violence in guyana
How Crime Has Become A Pre-Occupation
Early the morning of Guyana’s Independence Day, I read Prem Misir’s feature on the “politics of ethnic marginalization” of Afro-Guyanese in Guyana. (Chronicle 05/26/02) Then I read Ravi Dev’s letter “the PPP has become ineffective…” (Stabroek News 05/25/02). After this I read Janet Jagan’s piece affecting concern about “What’s happening to Mr Hoyte” (Mirror 05/26/02). I re-read Lorri Alexander’s “I will continue searching for the way forward”. (Stabroek News 05/25/02)
Lorri Alexander, an unapologetic admirer and supporter of Forbes Burnham was obviously enjoying his verbose diatribe. One can visualize his smirk. But hero worshipping Burnham is not going to move anyone or anything forward.
Ravi Dev wants to make political mileage. His ethnic (Indian) concern may be real, but his contribution lacks any kind of truthful historical analysis; thus his premise and conclusions are faulty. Janet Jagan, witty and discerning, points to (to me) a serious flaw in our Guyanese culture where we tend to be getting gross, impolite, disrespectful, lacking decorum and finesse in the art of refined diplomacy – indeed uncultured – for Desmond Hoyte to call President Jagdeo a “liar” on national TV without offering any evidence or proof is indelicate. For the Leader of the Opposition to utter statements such as “to make the country ungovernable”, “slow fire” and “more fire” is ungentlemanly, unpatriotic, and borders on sedition. Reading Janet Jagan’s article however evoked some pity for Desmond Hoyte. But I retract. He is a dangerous man – he does not trifle with his words. He, like Hamilton Green of the past, is a product of the Burnham era, and a Burnham’s protégée. Their language have always been crude and uncouth (when they want to), and meant to instill fear and display arrogance and raw power – to anyone, regardless of ethnicity or status in the society. Obviously, they feel that they nothing wrong during their days in government.
I began to reflect on the spate of violence in Guyana and could not help but recognize that the methodology employed by the PNC and their allies is consistent with that found in societies that engage in ethnic conflicts. (See “The Irrationality of Ethnicity”, page 11.) I revisited the report of the PNC X-13 Plan to gain some fresh perspective and, as ever before, I was appalled. A colleague had mentioned a couple of weeks ago in reference to the crime situation in Guyana: “Like the X-13 in operation now!” And I soliloquized: “Is history repeating?” I wondered…. And wonder.
Ravi Dev had documented names of those who suffered casualties of political and racial violence, and Rakesh Rampertab (SN 05/26/02) has named names of others who experienced similar fates. On the GNI Discussion Board, BK has also drawn attention to the current violence, and was hoping to get some action initiated. Since then many individuals have voiced their views on the crime situation in Guyana. Some have offered concrete proposals, as Dev subsequently did in asking the government to have a firm hand against “terrorism”.
Indeed, it is alarming!
I do not live in Guyana, and admit that I do not know or get the direct feel of what’s happening on the ground. But when one reads the Guyana newspapers, the predominant bulletin (usually front page) that hits home is crime – gruesome and deadly.
For a country with the population of Guyana the crime rate is relatively high. But, as observed by Prem Misir in a subsequent feature, the crime rate is now lower than in the past. One may surmise and conclude that though crime is occurring often, the overall criminality of the nation is small since the crimes are executed repeatedly only by a small group of individuals, and in the most gruesome manner. This however is not consoling and does not give peace of mind to the citizens. Nor does it cover up the perception and reality at home and abroad – that here is a reckless, renegade country!
The repeatability and the callousness of such crimes are not singular to Guyana. Look around the world! In Ireland. In Gujarat. In Kashmir. In Jamaica. In Columbia. In Nepal. In many African nations. In Palestine. In Sri Lanka. In Madagascar. And elsewhere, including Chicago, Detroit, New York and other large metropolitan cities!
For some people, such violent behavior and carnage justify their cause. Newsweek magazine recently tells the story of young boys being abducted in armies as child soldiers. Their social life, indeed their total life, is constructed in an environment of violence. So too are those who are born in the perpetual violence of Ireland and Palestine. And in the name of God, sometimes. What else can one expect from the children of war today! Are the men setting the right example when they create wars – dressed in fancy suits, with sculpted smiles, all decked out for the TV cameras?
In Guyana, criminal activities have becoming excessive, generating constant fear – fear to move about freely, fear to do business (since most of the targeted people are in business), fear of overseas tourists, holidays makers and investors to visit. These can impact seriously the growth of the nation – in all spheres of activities – as indeed is happening. Chronicle (06/05/02) reports that “The private sector, touted as the engine of growth in the national economy, has said it is hurting badly from the impact of the current crime wave.”
Crime in Guyana is like a stinking cancerous canker, a festering sore, and a blemish to the good name of Guyana and all respectable and caring Guyanese. It can spread and consume the entire body.
Most Guyanese do care. Yet, some people carry on as though everything is OK. Some even sblack person openly! What is very frightening and worrying is the impression that the Police are ineffective and unable to cope with the situation. Citizens feel a sense of loss, uncertainty and despair, as a Guyanese visitor to New York told me. Such a scenario can develop into vigilante action which is being advocated in some quarters!
Some people argue that the current crime wave is being bred, and is ethnically motivated; some claim that it is politically motivated; while others say that it is criminal activity, pure and simple. All may have some validity. In addition, there appears to be some copy-cat crimes.
During and after the last general elections there was a spate of violence directed primarily towards East Indians, which lend some credence to the first argument. Political motivation for favoring crime is well documented in the opposition PNC X-13 Plan since the 1960s, the “kick-down-the-door” banditry in the 1980s (which may also be considered ethnic, as it was directed against Indians in particular), and more recently with the PNC’s glorification of the dangerous criminal Linden ‘Blackie’ London. The “Gang of Five” is similarly being admired as heroes and referred to as “freedom fighters” when in fact they are veteran robbers and killers. The implied notion circulated by some opposition elements that some criminal activities are in retaliation to the “extra-judicial” killings by the Police is specious and highly inflammatory. These criminals are “professionals” who conduct criminal activities as a business – a very lucrative business – and nothing gets in their way! Some opine that it is political and “centrally directed”.
One should note also that the many deportees (criminals), who flooded Guyana from the U.S. and UK, took with them their criminal savvy, and have been implementing their know-how since then in Guyana. (An embarrassing situation where the Guyana government was told to accept the deportees, or else. The government buckled under the pressure and threat from the U.S. and was coerced to accept the deportees. What else could the government do? Fight the “Imperium”?)
There is no doubt that some crimes are personal, and some occur among warring groups involved in illicit activities such as drug deals that go sour. However, based on the methods of operation and the sophistication of weaponry and communication, other questions are prompted: Is there any link between some criminals and institutions that possess the weaponry? Are weapons smuggled in from the borders of Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil? Where do they obtain military fatigues, helmets, and bulletproof vests? To be sure, there is no randomness in what is going on now.
Many are criticizing the government for their rather slapdash manner in dealing with the crime situation – the Ministry of Home Affairs, the DPP and the Police having all performed poorly. The government’s complacency has resulted in too much laxity and ambivalence – they hope that the criminals would just “go away”. On one hand, the government and the police are being criticized by opposition elements and Amnesty International for the “extra-judicial” killings, and on the other, they are accused of not being more proactive and firm. How much can the government really do in a society that alleges ethnic divide, marginalization, ethnic insecurity and powerlessness? When it is being regularly threatened by “mo fiah, slow fiah”! When Afro-Guyanese intellectuals especially, sympathetic to the PNC, regularly propagandize the outbidders’ mantras!
Some few, who are adherents of ethnic advocacy, decry the government’s handling of the situation. They offer no solution! Some appear quite happy, knowing that the so-called “freedom fighters” are doing their bidding. Others don’t take these positions, and are aghast and horrified, and seriously concerned with what is taking place…. In spite of the shortcomings, government has, in the circumstances, been walking a tight rope in a society where political entrepreneurs are regularly agitating and appealing to the vain instincts of ethnic distrust. This ethnic appeal is extremely powerful and emotive. Observe how it’s causing bloodletting among blood brothers in Ireland, India, Palestine and Rwanda, to name a few places. And even among some of my acquaintances! “The irrationality of ethnicity” (see Stabroek News editorial 05/23/02) surfaces often enough to cause social, economic and political dis-equilibrium. The government has been sensibly re-directing the dialogue from a potential all-out ethnic conflict. Think about it.
Unfortunately, some assess this as a form of weakness and lack of resolve, especially when one reads the anemic statement from the Minister of Home Affairs: "we are very much cognisant of the situation and we are doing what is necessary to contain the situation and reduce the crime (and) eventually to deal with the criminal situation in a comprehensive manner."
Many recognize the similarity in the methods adopted by the PNC and other peoples, for example, in Rwanda – by their newspaper releases, their radio and TV propaganda, their bulletins and fliers that carry the emotive call for “blood”. Guyana is a classic case where an ethnic conflict cauldron is boiling – just waiting for that critical degree of “heat”…. The government’s cautious handling of the ethnic issues must therefore be admired, even if one may not fully agree. This is the reality! This is real politick! There is a threatening fear of an internal implosion because all the ingredients are present.
But who is winning this war? Why is there so much lawlessness in Guyana (and in the rest of the world)? As far my memory goes there have always been wars of invasion and of conflicts – ethnic and religious. It seems that this is the preferred way for the powerful and the bully – for imperialistic dominance, for hegemony in all forms, for oil, for control and power, so as to amass immense wealth and subjugate the others. This is the brutal but true quintessence of our so-called civilized social relations.
So that when we observe violence that are obviously directed against one’s ethnicity or religion, usually there is a more profound underlying motivation for such action. And when we see the deteriorating anti-social behavior and criminality in society, the excessive use of force and violence, should we not ask: “Where are the criminals getting their ideas from? Who are their role models? Are they not reveling in their criminal acts in the same way we are glorifying wars? Wars on land, seas and in the air? And in the movies?”
(For those interested in conflict studies, the following are two good references: “Ethnic Violence, Conflict Resolution and Cultural Pluralism”. Report of UNRISD/UNDP, New York, August 1994. “The Search for Identity: Ethnicity, Religion and Political Violence” by Yusuf Bangara. UNRISD, Occasional Paper, No. 6, 1996.) Both can be found on the internet.)
In Guyana there are only a few main highways and very few arteries. Why is it then that the criminals are able to escape after robberies and murders? Under normal conditions, Police operate within proscribed rules and due diligence. But under extra-ordinary conditions the Police must adopt other strategies and actions as dictated by the prevailing conditions. And not merely meeting with church leaders.
Upon deliberating, the following strategies and actions are suggested:
* 1. The Police must first be mandated by the central government and given the full authority by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. The Police must maintain professionalism, meaning also, that they must be impartial and unfettered from political and ethnic alliances. They must perform their duties diligently and according to their oath of office – at all times.
(The military must forget the past regime when they were required to swear allegiance to the PNC which regarded government as an extension of that party.)
3. There must be strong public relations in government and the police to increase public support. Such personnel must have professional expertise and not be contentious as is often the case. Church and civic leader may also be co-opted.
4. The government must ensure that the Police are adequately paid, and that they have the necessary equipment to enhance their effectiveness.
5. There is an apparent open secret of corruption where people (including the police) are ‘paid off’. Corruption must be wiped out at all levels, even if sting operations are set up to catch the offenders. This is necessary to build confidence in the Police and public offices.
6. At certain times (for example, when criminal activity is high – like now) government must call out the Military to support the Police on specific assignments.
7. There should be coordinated communication systems to mobilize the forces, to set up roadblocks, to have aerial surveillance, using cameras and helicopters. Since it is reported that the criminals use machine guns, the police and military must likewise ‘fight fire with fire’.
8. Community policing should be initiated where citizens form working parties to protect their own communities. The National Emergency Commission can also be involved.
9. A reward system and anonymous tips may also be helpful.
10. When the perpetrators of crime are caught, the law must take its course without delay.
11. The government and the Police should solicit the assistance of outside agencies (such as the FBI, Scotland Yard, and others) to aid in the fight of crime.
12. In addition, as a long term re-structuring, government must decentralize the police and the military. Probably, there should be three Commissioners, one for each of the counties, and with full autonomy. Similarly, there should be command centers for the military in the three counties. Recruitment and training, and deployment will be within the respective areas. Thus the police and military response to crime and unrest would be quicker.
It is the duty of any democratically elected government to protect its citizens. Having read the angry outburst in letters and features, one can be fairly sure that the government would be pressured into some positive action. Even with the limited resources, much more could have been done to avert the calamity. The wait-and-see mind-set must give way to more pro-active methods. Now! Criminals should not escape in a country where the transportation network is simple and minimal. There is no meaning to arrogance, showmanship posturing and conceit when it is clear that crime is winning.
– By Gary Girdhari
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Waveney Monica Moore
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Post by Waveney Monica Moore on May 20, 2006 11:56:11 GMT -5
It is my understanding from reading several articles. listening to several political pundits, analysis, academics and press releases that the major players in the drug industry in Guyana are those of top politicians and businessmen. It is not withstanding that I have to remind readers that drugs crime and violence goes hand in hand. With these concepts the severe impact on society is catastrophic, since drugs in itself is an epidemic.
When the top politicians and businessmen choose drugs as a means of finance for the economy they evidently thrive only in a culture that has no clear concept of right or wrong. These actions result in social, political and environmental problems which escalates beyond management control. With the heads of state running the drug cartel the populace has no other option but to follow for their own survival. If we are to take each of these concepts on their own there is a Government department or official leading the way, giving orders. for example the head for the judiciary is alleged to be part of the drug cartel. My question is here and now, what hope do we have in fighting drugs as a crime when the top man in this arena is himself alleged to be part and parcel of this environment? I do not have the answers.
The results of drugs is crime and violence. Leading politicians alleged to be in the drug cartel are responsible for the crime arena and are responsible for the crime chief. How do we fight crime when the top dogs are drugs lords themselves? There are strong evidence to support the level of violence created in this very small society as a result of drugs crime. For example several persons loss of life and no one being held to be accountable. Support for the police and the army to fight crime and violence are poor, this is an attempt to destabilize and weaken their performances in these areas.
The Government of Guyana has been democratically elected to serve the people of Guyana and not some of the people. The cry of the people of Guyana is loud and clear that some sections of the society are dissatisfied with their stake. Because they are not part and parcel of the drug crime and violence sphere. The main problem with the drug cartel in Guyana is the fact that the results of actions are then being blamed on other factions of the society as a spin to deflect attention for the wrong doings and apportioning blame on the innocent.
1. It would be appreciated and applaudable if the government can withdraw from the drug cartel as alleged and clean up its act.
2. Act in the name of governance with an holistic approach. Involve all the people to have a say and listen to the oppositions.
3. Have an economic strategy. Restore the country to development of its resources and not give it away to developed countries for little or nothing such as the gold and diamond and the other mining areas to already developed countries. Have an education strategy to educate all in society. Just look at the state of the schools and the selection process. The return to state run and private education has had an unacceptable impact on Guyana's education. Performance in the CXC is the poorest in the Caribbean. Those with good performance are form people who can afford to pay for their education.
4. Create jobs for all and look at ways to gradually increase public sector salaries which would encourage staff to stay and work in the development and betterment of the country which will make them competitive to other Caribbean countries.
5. Have an overall strategy to attract people in the diaspora to want to return home and to add to the development of their country and not to be afraid to go home due to the existing crime and violence. There are people in the diaspora who have spent their life savings building their retirement homes in Guyana and are afraid to go home to enjoy their pension.
6. Have a monitoring system of the local government apparatus which will allow for the better infrastructure in every local democratic areas. Not giving more to one local area and nothing for the other. Never in modern times have I seen a country flooding as soon as rain starts to fall. and look at the areas that are flooding.
7. Have a sensible approach and support to fighting drugs crime and other violence while supporting the armed forces to do their jobs in the best possible ways.
8. Attract inward investment via people in the diaspora this can be achieve through the encouragement of a sensible land distribution system not only giving the land to one set of people. Guyana belongs to all of us not just some of us.
These strategies will work and restore people's confidence in Guyana and put Guyana back on the map again. I am ashamed to discuss Guyana's social political and economical problems in comparison to other developing countries with friends and colleagues along the way. I want Guyana to have a strong and vibrant economic education and social standing like it did in the past. Lets all put our heads, hearts and hands together and pull in the same direction and sing from the same hymn sheet and make things better for Guyana and all Guyanese.
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Post by jono on May 20, 2006 12:30:01 GMT -5
I completely agree with your strategies on how to fight crime in Guyana... The impression that I get from talking to people is that the system has failed the people of Guyana because it is corrupt from top to bottom resulting in a loss of faith in these institutions... What compounds the problem is when we read stories about how the police is slow in responding to a crime... I am wondering if you think that the Police/Security forces need to be more ethnically balanced as some have proposed ??
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Post by jono on May 20, 2006 12:47:33 GMT -5
How high up the mountain?
RECENTLY, in light of two boring Sunday editorials by Stabroek News about the Army, I have listed a few questions for Brigadier Edward Collins, the Chief of Staff.
I raise these questions for the sake of legitimate documentation.
1. Would the final Army report about the missing guns be made available to media houses, as it should be, and the findings subjected to external audits? After all, the Army cannot be trusted to conduct an investigation into its own mishaps — especially in light of events these past few months.
2. The Chief of Staff claims that no one is immune from interrogations. If so, why have the homes of the “masterminds” involved with the Buxton Gang, not raided and those individuals’ names not in the papers, although they are at the centre of a national security dilemma?
3. On April 2, Lt. Col. Claude Fraser said the Army was “pretty sure that the guns are not being moved around but that they are locked down somewhere…” He did not mention anything about 2001 or 30 AK-47s being missing (not 33). Was critical information withheld from the public?
4. On April 6th, the last “briefing” by Brigadier Collins was done at the Police Officers’ conference, where the revealing information was made public. Are we to assume that between April 2 and April 6, the Army made critical discoveries? Would the media be allowed to verify the genesis of this change?
5. Why was the “briefing” by the Brigadier done at the Police conference? Was this to deflect attention, since the conference was already shrouded with the Felix controversy?
6. In a time when every word from the Army needs to be carefully measured, what does the Brigadier mean by saying that the Army wants to return “national security” (or Guyana) “back to the point where it was before the disappearance” of the weapons, knowing well that “national security” has been under threat since 2001, if not before?
7. Does the Brigadier think that the noticeable silence from the PNCR on the grave Army lapse would historically affect the image of the Army, given that historians would interpret this as evidence of a supposed collusion between the Army and PNCR interests?
8. In similar light, is the Brigadier concerned that in a racially polarized nation, at least half of the public now regards the true motive for Joint Services raids, as a campaign against certain Indian businessmen (e.g., Roger Khan), a bogus search for guns? Take, for example, the Stabroek News cartoon (dated 04/02/06) in which the Police Commissioner is depicted as stompin’ over the city while a rodent-like smuggler carrying his bag of weapons, watches bemused and says: “An I done move out long time…hee hee.”
9. Does it matter to the Chief of Staff that the raid on the home of an Indian PNCR MP is being seen NOT as a mistake, but as an Army-Police ploy to counter the aforementioned popular belief?
10. How high up the mountain has the trail led thus far? In other words, is any senior Army figure being protected from investigation, given that it is rather suspicious that at the very least, no senior Army official has been held for such an historic and colossal blunder?
RAKESH RAMPERTAB
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Post by jono on May 22, 2006 18:43:52 GMT -5
Govt appears timid in fighting criminals -crime specialist
By Nigel Williams
Monday, May 22nd 2006
The country's lawmen are not doing enough to stop crime and the government appears to be timid to take certain initiatives, crime specialist Robert Gates says.
He told the Sunday Stabroek in an interview that the public lack of confidence in the police, the absence of a crack unit to deal with hardened criminals and the presence of rogue cops in the Police Force have all undermined the work of law enforcement and contributed to the horrendous crime in the country.
There have been more than 50 murders for the year so far, among them being the sensational killings of talk show host, Ronald Waddell, eight people on the East Bank of Demerara, contractor Gazz Sheermohamed and recently the slaying of Agriculture Minister, Satyadeow Sawh, his two siblings and a security guard.
Gates lamented that before the joint services undertake many of their operations the gunmen or their targets are often tipped off before hand. He said this is often times the work of rogue elements in the force who have strong links with criminals. Additionally, Gates said that the creation of armed gangs by drug lords to protect their interests and the alleged involvement of these gangs in assisting the law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime has also worsened the situation. He said that another factor also is the alleged connections among drug lords and politicians.
According to Gates, policemen today are also fearful of being charged for murder and as such they have been taking a softer approach in dealing with criminals. A few policemen have been charged for murder for excessive or wanton force during confrontations with civilians. Low wages, lack of incentives and the fact that many of the armed gangs have members who had stints in the disciplined services and other crack units have made the lawmen's task more difficult.
Gates said that he has had 25 years of experience in his profession and has done a number of investigations for companies and private individuals.
Recently, Gates has become very vocal in his views on crime fighting and this he said was motivated by the security forces' failures in combating crime.
The investigator said that the police force needs an overall strategy, noting that it was also time that the government hire a few foreign officers to work at the level of commanders.
He believes that intelligence gathering is woefully lacking in the force. Gates said that the Police Special Branch should be scrapped and replaced by a criminal intelligence unit. Presently Gates said the work of the Special Branch unit was to protect state secret against theft. He said this department however has outlived its usefulness.
According to him, around 95% of the operatives in the department are of a particular ethnic origin and there is a feeling that government does not trust them.
Moreover, Gates said that civilians under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs should man all the Police finance offices, Quarter Master Stores which issue uniforms, credit union sections and the passport office. He said this would free some of the policemen working in these departments and make them available to fight crime.
On the issue of the Buxton gunmen, who have successfully occupied the community for a number of years and have carried out spectacular and brutal raids, Gates said he sees them as criminals and persons who are being misled by political talk show hosts. "They are no resistance fighters and all these fancy names people call them. Some people are making them believe that they are being marginalised and this is urging them on to continue."
Gates said the Buxton gang as well as all the other gangs can be crushed, but the government cannot do it alone.
He said it would take the cooperation of the opposition as well as citizens. Gates believes that the PNCR can play a big role in disarming the Buxton fighters, noting that the community largely supports the party and there are leaders who can influence them.
On the Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix who has come under serious criticism for his lack of success in stopping crime, Gates said that there are people in the system who do not like him and who are doing all in their power to make him look bad. Recently the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on Felix to resign, saying that they had no confidence in him to lead the force. Felix has come under scrutiny for remarks made during a taped conversation allegedly between him and PNCR member Basil Williams. Government has sent the tape overseas for the voice to be authenticated but the result has not returned.
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Post by mackoleo on May 25, 2006 19:02:37 GMT -5
Guyana is a FAILED state !
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