Crime is devastating our communities

Dear Editor,

The recent attack and robbery on my daughter (21 years old) right before our front door outrages our family to the extent that one is moved to a hatred beyond anything words can describe.

The vicious attack on my daughter who has never hurt anyone and is just trying to move ahead in life, is a cowardly deed by two grown and strong men who could get away with violence against two young women because they feel they’ll never be caught. My daughter has never been assaulted in her life, and it is only because we brought her up to be strong and brave, that she is not as traumatized as others might be. These criminals who attacked her might have busted her upper lip (six stitches) and caused her mental trauma, but they have failed to break her spirit and her determination to make Guyana her home, even though she could make her home in the USA or elsewhere.

Editor, this vicious attack and robbery by these criminals underlines the general trend of outlaw activity in Guyana, and it beckons all of our citizens to close ranks, especially in political circles, to deal not only with criminality, but other important problems facing our dear country. No one political party can cope with the myriad of problems affecting our people; we all have to put our heads together to gain forward movement for Guyana. No one party can bring economic momentum to our people and further than that, no one party can sustain any momentum even if it managed to generate catalytic changes.  No one party can engage the majority of Guyanese to became fully integrated into nation-building and securing a great future for our children, and Editor, no one party can devise a system and make it work to really give meaning to our motto of ‘One people, one nation, one destiny.’

Editor, crime is a multi-dimensional problem, (just like many other problems we are facing), and it requires a multi-faceted approach to reduce the strains it brings to all of our citizens. The Police Force of Guyana is an institution which is influenced by politicians and politics, and the divisions in our society which have not been solved would definitely affect the functioning of our force resulting in rising crime and frustrated policemen. Crime-fighting is no small challenge, and our police need the full co-operation of a trusting public and  a dedicated political establishment which supports them through thick and thin.

We are all in this together, and if we want a decent and stable country – and crime is a very destabilizing factor in building a successful nation – we need political changes to lead in the direction of shared responsibility by all the different interests in Guyana, whether they are religious, ethnic, class or cultural entities, provided each body has one primary belief, that is, the goodwill, peace and friendship of all the citizens of our country. The politicians, religious leaders, community representatives, business leaders and regular citizens have to realize that crime is devastating our communities and a stand against criminality whatever form it may take, is the first step in a process where all of us can come together in urgency to tackle a national disaster affecting everyone, especially our children, who must inherit a country free from the terror of criminals.

Editor, all I can say is that after the criminal attack on my daughter, I, like any father, felt an anger which I cannot even put into words. I still feel the same.

Yours faithfully,
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr)