Dear Editor,
The resurgence of criminal activity and the lethargic response by the police must be viewed with some suspicion.
Guyana is no Afghanistan where criminals can hide in caves, yet bandits still plunder, terrorize and murder hard-working citizens of their cherished valuables in broad daylight and disappear into thin air. It boggles the mind how they can use motor cycles and cars and escape without being apprehended.
The mantra after each crime that investigations are continuing is not sufficient to dispel fears that the police are either incapable of or indifferent to dealing with the crime situation, or are in complicity with the criminals.
It is a known fact, played out almost daily in the courts, that many cases are lost through sloppy investigations, the disappearance of exhibits or file jackets or the non-attendance of witnesses, all of which are often influenced by corrupt transactions which have now become the norm in the police force.
How can the police be credited with any dignity, given the amount of dishonest, immoral, unethical and criminal conduct that is so glaringly evident in their daily behaviour? Guyana must be the only country in the Caribbean that has so many unsolved crimes, including murder. Yet, despite their obvious incompetence, millions of dollars are poured into the police force and yearly bonuses granted while there is very little confidence in their credibility and zero improvement in their performance.
Why must citizens continue to live like prisoners in their own homes behind iron grills, fearing that some bandit may be lurking at their window waiting for an opportunity to pounce on them, while those who are paid to serve and protect hibernate.
And, when in the rare instances these bandits are caught, the courts sometimes treat them leniently by granting nominal bail and light sentences, as if to say, go and create more mayhem but choose your targets selectively. It has not escaped my attention that one individual charged with causing death for dangerous driving was given back her licence while the case is still pending, no doubt a precedent that may have far reaching implications. In contrast, two others on the West Demerara were remanded to prison for similar offences. So, where is the equity in justice?
Since safety and security are overriding concerns of every citizen there is an urgent need to immediately restructure the police force, in order to make it more effective, efficient and trustworthy.
In the current circumstances, it would appear that the motto to serve and protect is a misnomer.
Yours faithfully,
D Singh
