Until the security forces are perceived to deal with all criminal activities in an even-handed manner all plans will come to naught

Dear Editor,

The much touted Citizens Security Programme has been finally inked and elements should be implemented shortly. While there has been much talk about this programme and its perceived benefits to Guyana and Guyanese, please permit me to point out two important ingredients to the successful implementation of any such programme to improve security in our country. These are: (i) public trust in the security forces, and (ii) the will to implement and go after all semblance of criminal activities, defined by the Oxford dictionary as “an act or omission regarded as a serious offence against an individual or the state, and punishable by law”. This definition will be elaborated later in this letter.