Dear Editor,
I was surprised to encounter a mounted police patrol in Bel Air Park and then a different one in Campbellville on the same day and within the space of 20 minutes. Although admirable and despite the fact it looks good, this is a wasted, albeit ancient custom and must be viewed as such.
Horses could and should only be used in crowd control situations; that would be practical and effective within their own limitations.
The policemen and policewomen sit on their high horses and petite mares respectively, tromping through the streets. Heaven help the horseshoes and hooves of those fantastically educated animals. Can you imagine a horse patrol horsing down a criminal in the congested traffic in the towns and cities of Guyana? Granted they can observe and radio telephone in to the more mobile patrols.
These officers must get out of their sedentary jobs and relieve their dormant sit-upons of their incumbent weight. Bicycle patrols are more practicable and immediately adaptable to our unique and versatile situation in Guyana.
Police should stop ensconcing themselves on their ‘high horses’ and come down to earth in order to nab snatchers, thieves, errant motorists, cyclists, motor cyclists and jaywalking pedestrians, thus bringing some semblance of order to our now burgeoning indisciplined society. They should get some physical and practical experience pursuing the criminal element in our societies.
Bicycle on. No horse-play.
Yours faithfully,
Roger A Bhulai
