Dear Editor,
Mr Rafael Trotman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) in a lengthy interview with the Stabroek News and published in its Sunday, April 26, 2009 edition claimed that “Security Sector Reform is moving at a snail’s pace.”
In that interview Mr Trotman exposed his lack of knowledge about the day-to-day dynamics within the security sector. He refused to allow himself to be briefed on the subject by persons within the administration who are knowledgeable about developments in the sector. Instead he opted to make a political statement in the media that is riddled with a number of inaccuracies simply for political reasons and in a vain attempt to embarrass the government.
Reform in the security sector is not moving at a snail’s pace. To pin the pace of reform and transformation in the security sector solely on the British/DFID’s contribution through the Security Sector Reform Action Plan is to ignore other significant contributions from government and other external stakeholders not to mention the totality and complexity of the process currently at work in the sector.
Mr Trotman’s claim that “the recent shooting of Commissioner of Insurance Maria van Beek exposed the fragile architecture of the nation’s security,” is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts.
Further, his claim that “the national security architecture is not solid enough to prevent through intelligence these acts from occurring,” is a far cry from the truth and a total lack of appreciation of the gains made within a relatively short period of time in the security sector.
Mr Trotman refuses to recognize the successes scored by the Guyana Police Force and the Joint Services in respect of a number of crimes committed.
In this regard for the benefit of readers I wish to remind of the following:
In light of the above any reasonable Guyanese (and there are many) will agree that significant strides have been made by the Guyana Police Force and the Joint Services in boosting and creating a greater comfort level for citizens’ security in our country.
Nowadays, there is a greater sense of relief and absence of fear on the part of the overwhelming majority of Guyanese as regards the security situation in our country compared to where it was some years ago.
If the AFC and others in the opposition wish to paint a picture of gloom and doom simply to add to the monotonous political humdrum it follows that our democracy is strong enough to resist and dispel such falsehoods. The lack of balance in Mr Trotman’s assessment of the “system” is clear for anyone to see, not to mention the obvious political posturing and his efforts at pandering to public perception.
Contrary to the view that there are “gaping holes in the system allowing criminals to act with impunity,” Mr Trotman should review his claims which when examined carefully will be found with many a gaping hole.
Finally, the Stabroek News must be criticized for carrying such an ill-informed unbalanced and biased story; lacking a view from the government.
It seems as though certain media houses accept anything told to them by an opposition party once it is critical of the government. Perhaps this is how the “independence” and political complicity between sections of the media and the political opposition is established, fostered and directed against the government.
Yours faithfully,
Clement J. Rohee
Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
