By Fareeza Haniff
![[File Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/police-web.jpg)
Ramjattan gave the assurance to Cabinet on Tuesday, June 23 and according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, “immediate steps” are being taken to increase police patrols, especially in Divisions A, B, C and D, which is the Georgetown, East Bank Demerara area; Berbice, East Coast Demerara and West Demerara, East Bank Essequibo.
Harmon also noted that that resources previously identified for the Community Policing Groups will be directed towards the central task of crime fighting by the police force.
“The Vice President assured that where policemen and women were engaged in businesses that were not central to the core functions of the Police Force that they will be removed from those and be put on the streets to ensure that we have more boots on the street, that we have more policemen on the streets, that we have better response and reaction to calls which come into 911 and that generally speaking that we have a more efficient police force,” Harmon told reporters at a post cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, June 24.
He reiterated that government wants to ensure that citizens are comfortable in their homes and that “businesses can transact their business in an atmosphere of safety and that citizens generally can feel a sense of security as they go about their business.”
It was also noted that Minister Ramjattan is currently on a two day visit to Berbice, where he will tour the police stations and interact with ranks.
As of recent, there has been an increase in murder and robberies across the country. The recent crime statistics by the Police revealed that “at the end of May 2015 there was a 10% increase in serious crimes in comparison to the same period in 2014.
Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.
A total of 66 murders were recorded at the end of May 2015, which is an increase of 12% from last year. However, it should be noted that as of June 11, eight persons have been murdered.
Ramjattan is such a fool! How can you give fisherman firearm to solve crime issues? Does this guy has any education at all? I strongly question is ability as a minister and a leader for Guyana! 90% of the time fishermen are intoxicated and their level of thinking is low – why in godly name would you want to arm them? To solve crime related issues, you have to create jobs, educate people and most importantly have prompt response to the public call when needed by the police force. The police stations need to have proper vehicles and each officer in their vehicles should have intercom systems with computers similar to north america. The vehicles should be equipped with Cameras and transmit back to a central location at a server in the event that the police is part of a crime! Ramjattan start thinking with your brains, not your toe nails…..God help Guyana with you as the leader of security. You ideas are as good as a rum boogie!.
We have to work harder in plugging all loop holes and areas by which illegal guns are coming into the country. Stiffer jail time when caught in these acts and lastly even though it is on it way out in other Countries bring back hanging. it worked before and it will work again.
The law should be 25 years for illegal firearm and 50 years for committing a crime with firearm
You will continue to be petrified. With the change in government there was a spike in criminal activities.
I would propose roving mobile command posts in strategic areas along the East Bank and East Coast, Demerara, public roads so that in event gunners commit robberies, word is quickly transmitted along the routes for possible interception of getaway vehicles. The presence of mobile command centers within certain communities can also go a long way to deterring criminals. The prevalent use of guns in the commission of crimes has to be stamped out if a sense of normalcy is to be restored.
I really do hope so as I am planning to make a visit to Guyana and I am petrified.