There needs to be strong leadership in the area of policing

Dear Editor,

I have been the one advocating for the Pomeroon river outposts for over a decade. Every time I write calling on the authorities to give us answers to our questions, we wait for years. The Minister of Transport and Hydraulics has tried to throw dust in the eyes of the Essequibians.

Why do Essequibians have to endure such hardship travelling to Georgetown, driving on the main public roads and accessing proper services from the Guyana Police Force? We need strong leadership in the area of policing; many of the leaders are good representatives of the liquor bars. The patrols, aka ‘Black Clothes’ are beggars on the public roads. Drivers can attest to this since many are asked to leave something, giving the idea that they don’t get to eat or don’t have money to buy something to eat. It is disgusting to see public officers behaving in the way we observe them doing. This does not augur well for the future of our country. The Ramotar administration has a lot to do where public officers are expecting payment for services rendered is concerned. This bring us back to the previous regime.

If something is not done soon to deal with these types of attitude and behaviour, I can see dark days ahead. I am in business and deal with all types of people from various levels of our society, so I have a feel of what is taking place on the ground.

I once again wish to thank the Government of Guyana for initiating the project to build the outposts for the Pomeroon River. The people of the Pomeroon can breathe different air when this is done – but that’s not the end of it. The Customs Department has to do its part along with the security forces to curb the trafficking of drugs, guns, fuel and other items illegally entering our region and the country as a whole.

Yours faithfully,
Andreiko Basir