The Guyana Bar Association (GBA) today expressed shock at yesterday’s attack on land court judge, Nicola Pierre and her family.
A GBA statement follows:
The members of the Guyana Bar Association are shocked and saddened at the brutal attack on Commissioner of Title, Madam Nicola Pierre and her husband Mr. Mohamed Chand yesterday. It is all the more shocking that the attack took place in their home on the East Coast of Demerara while the judicial officer and her husband and son were asleep.
The thoughts of the members of the legal profession are with Ms. Pierre and her family as we await the results of their treatment and pray for their full and speedy recovery.
Judicial officers play an invaluable role in the administration of justice and the rule of law and every reasonable effort must be made to secure and protect them and their families. While it is a measure of some relief that the alleged perpetrators have been captured and are in custody, the Association notes that too many serious crimes remain unsolved.
The Association has noted with increasing concern the escalating incidents of crimes committed on citizens, almost all of which involve the use of firearms, and many of which have resulted in the death of the victims. The frequency and the serious nature of these attacks are desensitising our society to the rights of citizens to safety and security whether in or out of their homes, and the duty of the State to protect every citizen, of whatever station in life.
The Association calls on the Minister of Public Security and the Commissioner of Police to develop strategies and take action to combat the level of violence in our society. Further, the Association calls on the Government to ensure that our law enforcement agencies are provided with the necessary tools to adequately address crimes in all their manifestations in our country.
