Dear Editor,
I would like to bring to the attention of the Minister of Public Security and the Commissioner of Police, the actions of ranks stationed at the Annai police station in the North Rupununi, which, in my opinion, border on the illegal and unlawful. These lawmen have taken it upon themselves to launch a traffic crackdown and in the process, are terrorising and intimidating the citizens of the North Rupununi. Despite the fact that none of these ranks are certified traffic officers, they have taken the liberty and right upon themselves to randomly stop motorists, particularly motorcyclists who use the roadways in the North Rupununi, at all hours of the day and night.
Ranks are now in the habit of waiting on darkened roadways or behind bushes, to pounce on unsuspecting motorists. They have now gone to the extreme of waiting on farm roads and fishing trails for motorcyclists, and stopping them regardless if they have committed a traffic offence or not. Are these roads even gazetted public roads and are the actions of these ranks in keeping with standard operating procedures of the force?
Once stopped by the police ranks, and found guilty of a traffic offence, motorcyclists have two options. Pay a hefty bribe or run the risk of having your motorcycle impounded and having to attend court in Lethem which is 120 kilometres away. Ranks can also be seen riding impounded motorcycles as well as the force’s All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) at breakneck speed on the roadways with no consideration for fellow road users. Often, the police ranks can be seen transporting passengers without safety helmets on the force’s ATV or allowing friends and cronies to break the traffic laws with impunity. Are these ranks not supposed to be setting an example for other road users and is it even legal for a rank to use an impounded motorcycle for personal use?
The entire situation should be put in context however. The North Rupununi, like other parts of Region 9, have in recent years seen a proliferation of motorcycles with most being old, outdated models purchased from neighbouring Brazil. The majority of these bikes are used to go to the farm, to go fishing or to transport school children over long distances to go to the only secondary school in the North Rupununi: the Annai Secondary School. These motorcycles are used to eke out an honest living in an environment where jobs are hard to come by.
There is indeed urgent need for a regulatory system to be put in place to handle the increasing number of motorcyclists on the roadways and to deal with traffic-related matters such as the issuance of driver licences and fitness for vehicles. But herein lies the problem. There is one Certifying Officer in Region 9 and he is stationed at Lethem. He visits the North Rupununi on average, once or twice a year and only for a day or two. How then are motorcyclists supposed to obtain motorcycle licences when the Certifying Officer’s visits are so sporadic? How are fitness documents for vehicles supposed to be obtained? How can traffic classes be conducted in preparation for motorcyclists to do the theoretical traffic exam? How can the practical traffic exam be done when the Certifying Officer does not even visit the North Rupununi on a regular basis.
It is extremely difficult for motorcyclists to make the 240 kilometres round trip from the North Rupununi to Lethem and back at great personal cost to attend traffic classes or to obtain fitness documents for their motorcycles. It is imperative that the Certifying Officer visits the North Rupununi at least every month or two to bring greater regularisation to the increase in vehicular traffic in this sub-district, or that a traffic department headed by a duly certified Traffic Officer be set up at the Annai police station.
But in the meanwhile, it is my opinion that ranks at the Annai police station, instead of harassing road users and motorists, should be lobbying the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force to put better systems in place to deal with all traffic-related matters as well as launching public awareness traffic initiatives for the general public. More importantly, the force’s administration as well as other relevant stakeholders should take a proactive and holistic approach to see how the issues outlined in this letter can be addressed in the best interest of the indigenous peoples of the North Rupununi, many of who live below the poverty line.
In the meanwhile, the support and confidence of the general public in the police ranks at the Annai police station has eroded to an all-time low and not a single person is willing to work with the ranks stationed there on more pressing areas such as crime and domestic violence. There is only a deep feeling of resentment, hatred and mistrust towards the ranks. One individual sardonically suggested that the mandate of the Guyana Police Force should be changed from “to protect and serve” to “coerce, intimidate and exploit.” Corruption, harassment and intimidation by police ranks across the length and breadth of Guyana will continue for the foreseeable future. That’s the stark, naked reality of this poor country blessed with so much natural riches but shackled by the tentacles of corruption.
Yours faithfully,
S. Fredericks
