Dear Editor,
Crime-fighting in any country needs vehicles, boats, air transportation, communications equipment, dedicated men and women, and financial resources, among other things. So it was good news to all law-abiding citizens when the Home Affairs Minister disclosed recently that the Guyana Police Force had acquired a high-powered boat to patrol our rivers, especially at a time when smuggling, piracy, and other crimes are on the increase.
Of course this is not the first time such boats were acquired. But it has been observed that after a short time these boats and other crime-fighting tools, be they cars, trucks, motor cycles or other equipment become unserviceable. It is the public perception that these boats and vehicles are not properly used, supervised and maintained. The Commissioner of Police through his commanders in various divisions needs to ensure that this is done.
The problem of care and maintenance of vehicles and equipment is not confined to the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force; it is noticeable in many government agencies and administrative regions.
Look at Region Two – Pomeroon-Supenaam – where the region’s grader has been down for about four years. The front end loader, several excavators, bulldozer, bobcat, tractor, mower and many other vehicles and machines that the residents would benefit from are not working. Some of them have been in that state for months.
But what is a matter of concern is that when this same equipment is up for sale whether by sealed bid or by public action, the purchaser within days would get it up and running.
The system of procuring spares for these machines and vehicles needs to be looked at and the mechanical workshops need to be upgraded.
Yours faithfully,
Archie W Cordis
