Dear Editor,
The sudden rise of crime in our country is now a concern for all Guyanese citizens and the re-introduction of blackouts makes it easier for thieves and criminals to escape very easily from the police and citizens. Just a week ago while we were in church service on a Sunday Night a week before Easter, a man walked into our church yard as if he was coming to church. He suddenly jumped on a bicycle that belonged to one of my church members that was parked in our church yard and rode away. Though we recognized the man as a common bicycle thief he was never apprehended by the police nor the policing group who visited his home. As a matter of fact my church member reported the matter to the police but they never came to arrest the thief.
It gives one much food for thought to think about thieves invading churches during prayers and worship just to thief. Now I am told thieves are coming on bicycles robbing stores and members of the public and also operating on motorbikes. A policeman was recently shot trying to rescue a woman who was robbed by two bicycle bandits and a businessman was shot and killed in Industry after coming home from the bank. It seems as if information is getting into the hands of bandits directly from the banks because the bandits know where residents are living so they can wait for them not far from their homes to rob them.
Our country is not a very safe place to live in because of the high crime rate that has invaded our society daily. It seems as if the police force is too poorly equipped to deal with criminals with high-powered guns while our soldiers are just resting.
When crimes are occurring the police will not show up when they are called. Some will show up only when they are given a raise or bribe to do so.
Not long ago, after I returned from church about 8:30 PM, I discovered thieves had broken into our house and ransacked the place. My wife drove to the police station that was just five minutes away. No police came to the scene. They just took her report though she offered to use our vehicle to bring them. If they would have come with dogs they would have been able to track down the thieves but because of incompetence I suffered severe losses.
Thieves are all over our country from the city of Georgetown to Berbice and Essequibo. After eighteen years in office our government has failed to ensure a very efficient police force and better technology to catch thieves and criminals. Our laws in the courts cannot protect our citizens because some clever lawyers are representing criminals thus they are set free very easily. Since the Police cannot handle criminals why is it the soldiers are not out to help the police?
What plans does our existing administration have to tackle this crime situation in Guyana?
I am told about the one laptop computer per family plan in a nation invaded by constant blackouts. We don’t need a laptop computer that will be stolen by bandits. What we need is a clean police force and soldiers to protect our citizens every day. We need a house-to-house campaign to clean up drug dealers and criminals. Citizens need licensed firearms to protect themselves from bandits. We need to close down all these illegal and some legal rum shops that are a safe haven to criminal elements.
What we have is too much idlers, touts, street sellers and thieves in our communities. We have now become a ghetto society just like Jamaica. People are no longer safe in their homes and businesses that’s why they are leaving Guyana like sand flies daily. It’s about time our President gets more serious about this crime situation in Guyana and implement more serious laws.
It’s about time our soldiers be placed to guard government buildings, banks, and patrol the nation around the clock like Suriname. We must accept one fact that after 44 years of independence we have become a failed nation failing to protect the rights and dignity of our citizens. What have we really achieved after 44 years of bad administration? Citizens need better wages, protection and living conditions. The slain businessman at Industry is another family with children who will wake up without a father. May God help our leaders to be more efficient leaders.
Yours faithfully,
Rev. Gideon Cecil
