Dear Editor,
The problem with the police force is more one of entrenched attitude and hierarchy than pay and equipment. Their rough treatment of protesters and reported failure to respond to calls for help demonstrate this fact.
Outside leadership and better educated, motivated and paid ranks from all ethnic groups must be aggressively pursued. The question is not support for the GPF/GDF but their support and protection of us.
If it is a question of will, as the President says, then he must stop trying to build on the same ineffective security structures. We must break the current mindset and behaviour that keep the GPF from any real accountability and maximum use of existing resources. How much more training and weapons does the criminals have than the GPF/GDF? Why can’t a GDF unit act as a temporary SWAT team? How much money and equipment do the criminals use to gather intelligence?
The security forces have no real excuse for not doing better to protect Guyanese given the money spent. Time for an all parties roundtable to address security from an immediate, intermediate and long term basis, including a complete review of the existing security operations.
Yours faithfully,
(name and address supplied)
