Another trigger-happy MP, rural constables should be properly trained

Dear Editor,

I have been following the incident involving the government minister and a young man of East Coast Demerara. Today (11/29/07) I also read that another gun was fired by a Member of Parliament who is also a Rural Constable.

Any government official who degrades not only the government but also the entire country should be fired immediately for his/ her misconduct

Also any one who accepts a settlement/bribe should be charged, especially from a government official, for obstruction of the law. Government officials are not only charged with responsibilities in their respective ministries but they are also supposed to be role models for us and our children.

My late friend, Justus Christian of Yupukari told me once that he was assaulted by his drunken village Captain (then a Rural Constable). He was hit with a baton in his head. I am beginning to question the level of training (if any) that those Rural Constables receive before being elevated to constable status. I recommend that they do the course that the regular police recruits do before they attain their ranks as Rural Constables. I have a fear that because of the lack of proper training, something more serious may occur. Why was the Constable in question given a gun in the first place? I do not think that there is a need for a gun nor baton in the villages.

Yours faithfully,

Guy Marco