Weeding out corrupt cops

THE wanton loss of lives in any society is a source of grave concern, especially in societies with relatively low populations. Let us take Guyana as a case study with regard to road accidents and fatalities.
We use Guyana as an example because of its size, population, number of motor vehicles, road users, drivers’ licensing regime and our road network.
Guyana has an area of some 214,970 sq. kilometres and a population of just under one million inhabitants of which amount a sizeable part has migrated to other parts of the world.
These factors are important simply because each is inter-related and must be taken into consideration when anyone tries to make a serious attempt to at least identify the causes of road accidents and their related results.
We are at the end of the second month of the year and already 16 persons have lost their lives following 17 accidents. In addition, there have already been countless cases of loss of limbs, cuts, bruises and paralyses.
Although 16 road deaths for this year so far are a far cry from the 21 recorded in the corresponding period last year, no one in his or her right senses would accept this as an achievement. The fact that road accidents and fatalities have been taking place at an alarming rate,  means that something tangible needs to be done to arrest this unwanted situation.
In terms of our population, we cannot afford to lose more of our citizens because of recklessness and the lack of due care and attention of others. People believe that our current road network is incapable of accommodating the number of motor vehicles which continues to grow almost on a daily basis.
This apart, scores of drivers are still obtaining licences “through the chute.” When situations of this nature surface, we find a lot of inexperienced drivers (to put it bluntly, people who cannot drive) on our busy roadways.
There are also other causes of accidents that need to be examined like speeding and imbibing. Coupled with the other factors that lead to road accidents, is the integrity of those policemen/women who would have allowed themselves to be sold for the proverbial “thirty pieces of silver.”
We have observed on numerous occasions that because the flesh is weak in some police officers, it is difficult for them to rise above temptation, and are easily susceptible to accepting bribes.
It is as easy as this: a person is found driving without being the holder of a licence. He offers a bribe, the police takes it and he is allowed to carry on. This is rampant all over the country and should be stopped.
There is no harm in drivers of motor vehicles having police as friends, but when it comes to their duty, these men of the law must act in a professional manner and allow justice to take its course.
The same goes for those found driving and speeding while being under the influence. As long as their offers are good, they are let off the hook. The people are of the opinion that all members of the police force should also make declarations of their assets to the Integrity Commission.
We are not against any member of the Force owning anything, but the people are suspicious about the manner in which they were achieved.
Reports are rife that certain members of the force are owners of minibuses, fancy cars and speedboats among other things. This is exactly what John Public is questioning. We agree that as long as corruption persists among certain officers in the Police Force, it is difficult to put the brake on road accidents and throw the damper on crime as a whole.
The people believe that determined efforts should be made by the police high command to examine all areas of operations in the force with a view to taking corrective measures, and at the same time weed out the corrupt cops.

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