Despite two recent mishaps on the Corentyne River which claimed the lives of several persons through the continuing `backtrack’ speedboat operations between Guyana and Suriname, nothing is being done by those in authority to end this culture.
Questioned on the issue yesterday, Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene said that until the river border issue between Guyana and Suriname was settled, it would be difficult for the police to intervene.
Asked what role local law enforcement can play in dealing with the illegal speedboat service, he responded, “That’s a very technical question. You know that the speedboat service has to do with the Corentyne River. I would have a difficulty dealing with that at this point in time.”
Greene was speaking to reporters at the conclusion of the Junior Officers’ Course No. 18 yesterday. He said he knew that the government was looking at the issue in terms of the use of that river and “until that is settled it would be difficult for us the police to take a front role in that because those boats are licensed on the other side”.
It was subsequently pointed out to Greene that the boat operators are Guyanese who dock their vessels on our shores and openly advertise their illegal business. He then claimed that when people are caught in that operation they are dealt with.
Asked about the possibility of the operators on the Guyana side being stopped, he said that was a question for the government.
Last Friday, a boat carrying eight persons capsized in the Corentyne River after the propeller became entangled with fishing seines. Six people, including the Guyanese owner/captain of the vessel, Roy Ramdass drowned. The boat was on its way to Guyana.
Last year February, two women drowned after the vessel they were in capsized while they were travelling ‘backtrack’ from Corriverton to Suriname. The boat was owned by a Surinamese known only as `Amit’.
Following that incident, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee had urged Guyanese travelling to Suriname to use the legal Corentyne crossing.
i would’nt condemmed the gop for saying that the backtracking situation is technical, it is in fact a trickie one, this situation was very ramphant in the burnham period were a particular etnic group prosper financially and economically with the backtracking activities and this systym became way of life for some,( i too benifitted from this illigal activity ) and during that period it was difficult for the police to apprehend persons involved with backtracking, it’s a matter of choice whether you want to backtrack which is faster and less expencive or whether you want to go legally which is much slower and cost more and very time consuming.
Is this guy for real? So what if the boats are licensed in Suriname, does it give them the right to operate with impunity in the Guyana waters? Mr. Commissioner get real andd either ban them or regulate the passenger boats entering Guyana.
And your are worried about illegal arms etc entering the country via the back routes, yet this is too much for you to handle… IF so resign and let’s have a true crime fighter take the reigns.
Well said mr. green, now i know where your head is, in the sand, for some one in your position you are clueless of how to take charge of your responsibility. I now see why you are still acting.
…….no wander so many guns in guyana……..the acting po po co is saying it…….he need to examin his statements……..and this could lead to establish gunmen movement between the twocountry……..then is as the question after the top cop…….is the people in berbice safe?……….what happen to the security of guyanese living in guyana…………guyanese must question this government on the security………..
The poor people are afraid to even open their mouths mush less question authority I know what I am talking about. I have my cousin here who is visiting from London and he is afraid for me that I am responding to all these comments.
I do hope the Prime Minister gets the chance to read all the negative things and take a grip of his staff.
Is the acting police of commissioner saying that they cannot solve any “technical” crimes in Guyana….is he saying that they cannot be bothered to even look into this incident because those who died were breaking the laws by backtracking…..is he saying that the police force will not in the future venture in the realms of solving anything that happens in the Corentyne river……is he wondering why he is still the “ACTING” police commissioner?
Sandhurst you should apply for a job in law enforcement or maybe CANU you seem to have the background ..but will they employ you if you are not related to someone in govt ….i think not.
Two words for you WEAK GOVERNMENT. Or maybe someone don’t want to piss off the drug runners that uses the same route. Anyways these guys make me sick.
technical?
How technical is illegal entry into a country? I thought that was a crime. Nelson’s eye at work here.
Whether we hear it from Greene or me – at the end of the day it is a fact the police does the dictates of the government.. I remember a senior police officer’s instructions on police work being countermanded by a minister in this present administration!! That was a very serious matter involving the use of a firearm no less.
Based on something I read in another publication yesterday it seems that the GPF cannot do any enforcement on the Courantyne River present and in the immediate future which may well be the reason for Mr. Greene saying that the issue is ‘technical.’ Enforcement may be limited to when these boats dock on the western bank of the river. To my mind the short term solution has to come from the ministers of Transport and Home Affairs which is to enact and enforce laws requiring adequate and serviceable safety and communications equipment on these boats. There should be guidelines for the safe operation of these boats including certificates of competency for the operators. Long term needs more studies.
It is abundantly clear that this PPP mess ain’t working and has not been working for a long time now. PPP tell me, why y’all continuing as a government when everything around you is in shambles? If you can’t sail the ship give somebody else the wheel. It makes no sense to continue when people obviously don’t want y’all and you really ain’t serving any useful purpose. Political power is not everything, it does not last forever and sooner or later it got to come to an end because y’all just cannot find a workable formula. Y’all cannot pull together the right ingredients and people ain’t want to work along with y’all anymore. For the sake of thousands of Guyanese lives, give it up. Solutions are out there but with y’all in the way, nothing will ever happen and entire generations will go down the drain. Mrs Jagan, if you got any influence left with your friends, tell them it’s time to go. If, not Guyana will soon cease to exist.
What did the PNC did for Guyana? If my memory does not fail me one year after the indipedence in 1977 guyanese were lining up for food I was in High School
I have not read anything anywhere the position of the gov on this tragedy…..if the m.o.h affairs, benn and carloyn are not being vocal on any long/short term solutions …what do you expect green to say …rohee controlls him and thus the forces direction …berbice has all the gov supporters and they benifit big time from this illegal activity….do you beleive they want to intrefere….how then can green voice any thing solid… he has to hedge….after all his confirmation rests in their hands….he just want to retire and draw his benifits.
And come on bloggers lets be real here ….this activity has been going on for decades…with the tacit approval of both sides G&S …at all border locations in the world there is illegal crossings …that cannot be stopped ….may be controlled. Unless green gets any directive he will not take a position….why dont the journalists corner a minister for a comment …..same babble you will hear and not the ttruth….we know it illegal ….but at the same time good/lucrative for OUR supporters!!! and we cant trouble that.
if people want to cross over to another one of our neighbours no amount of police presence will stop them .does the police have the resources to cope with this?