-Calls for public support in the fight against raising crime
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said it has made significant inroads in solving some major cases so far for this year, and has also called on the general public to give its support as it seeks to reduce the high incidences of crime.
On Monday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said the successes, notwithstanding the challenges have been many and could not have been possible without the commitment, patience and dedication of the every member of the Force.
He remarked that the force was able to solve the murder committed on British teen Dominic Bernard who was killed and his body dumped in a Corentyne Berbice village in March of this year. That case he said began as a missing person case but was later found to be a murder. He said because the intelligence was accurate and timely that police were able to arrest both prime suspects and others who were fingered in the act.
Another case that was successfully solved was the triple murder on the Corentyne in Berbice in July this year. According the crime Chief, that breakthrough was as a result of patience and commitment by investigators, who were able to nab all four suspects.
Investigators were also able to detect what was first being treated as a missing person- the murder of Simone Hackett back in April this year. Her reputed husband and a taxi driver were charged with her murder.
The Crime Chief spoke too of the murder committed on Professor Perry Mars. He said police were able to solve the crime in the matter of 12 hours. It was found that some juveniles committed the act back in May of this year.
Police were also able to solve the case of Babita Sarjou, who was murdered, but which was being treated as a missing person’s case.
Speaking at the Police Christmas plans launch on Monday, Blanhum said the force still needs the support of the public and stakeholders so that it will be able to maintain law and order and ensure the security of the people.
Trust deficit
Blanhum said that the force has also charged several ranks for police corruption. “We continue to recognize that there is a trust deficit among police and the amount of trust they place in members of the public. We will continue to seek to build and improve the trust among members of the public”, the Crime Chief promised.
And while there have been successes, Blanhum also spoke of the challenges faced by the GPF throughout the year, some of which included the Force’s inability to extract good quality CCTV footage from crime scenes, in addition to witnesses failing to attend ID parades when suspected criminals are apprehended.
