Following concerns expressed by Chairman of Region Seven, Holbert Knights, over the alarming increase in crime in Bartica, the police say that with the help of the army they are doing everything they can to bring the situation under control.
In a release issued on Friday night, hours after Knights said in a press statement that the police have made “zero progress”, the police said that “… supported by the Guyana Defence Force, [they] have been doing the utmost to ensure the safety and security of residents of the Bartica community since the incident in February, 2008”.
The statement said that between February 2 and 12 there have been six reported robberies involving the use of firearms in the Bartica community. Investigations revealed that three of the robberies were perpetrated by one armed man; in two instances the victims were attacked by two men and in the other case, the victim was attacked by a gang of three men. The police said they believed a three-member gang was responsible.
The police said that taking cognizance of the recent robberies that had occurred, patrols have been intensified and searches done in several areas which include 45 houses along the Bartica/Potaro Road, between One and Seven Miles, and also the outlying areas such as Teperu. Marine patrols by the Joint Services in that area have also been intensified.
To further deal with the situation, the release added, the police at Bartica have been strengthened by a senior officer from the anti-crime unit along with ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Criminal Intelligence and “we were able to identify three suspects who have since gone into hiding”.
In wake of this heightened police alertness in the community, a number of persons have been arrested and questioned by the police based on information received and from investigations being conducted, but so far none of them has been linked to the robberies committed.
And on Thursday the release stated, the Joint Services conducted an operation in the Bartica Arcade aimed at apprehending known characters and also unearthing narcotics and illegal arms and ammunition. Twelve men were arrested and are currently being processed by the police.
On Friday, according to the police an additional special team from the anti-crime unit was dispatched to Bartica to assist in the safety of the community and the apprehension of persons who may be involved in the robberies.
The release stressed that the police are actively pursuing several leads and are calling on members of the community who may have information that can assist in the apprehension of the perpetrators of these crimes to pass this on through the Officer-in-charge at Bartica, telephone number 455-2241; the Divisional Commander on telephone number 226-1333 or the police Quick Response Hotline 225-6411.
Knights’ release came the day after another businessman was robbed of over $500,000 in cash and jewellery by a lone, by a masked gunman.
He had called on all stakeholders, the government and the joint services to take the necessary and appropriate action while pointing out that there was need for some new strategies and different approaches to apprehend criminals.
Meanwhile residents had told this newspaper that although additional ranks were taken to the community, nothing was being achieved as the police have so far failed to arrest one of the gunmen, who is a known criminal although they were given the relevant information.
