THE presence of retired United Kingdom (UK) military officer, Russell Combe in Guyana to oversee the implementation of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) is encouraging. There is no denying that crime continues to be a major concern for all Guyanese, and its frequency relative to our population size a deterrent to the diaspora and business community, domestic and international. Statistical report by the Guyana Police Force, which shows reduction in the different categories of crime in 2016 compared to 2015, with the exception of road accidents, is still being met with skepticism. This skepticism is understandable, not only because citizens harbour some distrust in the Police Force, crime is often used as a wedge issue and for political gain, but the fear that they too are vulnerable. Crime functions at different levels in society and is informed by multiple causes. It is invariably driven by socio-economic factors such as poverty, weak judiciary, weak and unenforceable laws. Eliminating it cannot ignore attending to the root causes.
Crime also has a political component. It is not unusual in fragile societies such as ours where divisions are strong and institutions of state are weak and compromised to see politicians capitalising on these features to engage in or lend support to criminal activities. Regardless of who does this or which side of the divide it occurs, such acts undermine the stability of a nation and by extension, its government and people.
Though the average person holds the view that he or she is more likely to be affected by blue collar crime, the presence of white collar crime, porous borders and underpopulated hinterland have allowed rogues to undermine our collective security. That the SSRAP is taking a comprehensive approach to crime management where technical and other support will be given to empower our law enforcement, Guyanese must make the most of this international developmental aid.
The structures the SSRAP tackles on implementation will not only aid in performance improvement, but also job satisfaction. At the same time where government has acknowledged improve remuneration for law enforcement officers is also important to insulate them from engaging in the very acts they are employed to avoid, realisation will go a far way in boosting performance, job satisfaction, and improving recruits both in quality and quantity.
Every effort made to improve national security redounds to the benefit of every citizen, and also makes the country a more attractive place for tourism and vacation preference and to do business. Where undoubtedly the country and its people stand to benefit from this projected political bi-partisanship will make the work of law enforcement most rewarding. The unfortunate tendency in our society to want a government that has not attracted our vote to fail, taking such an approach to crime makes none safe.
In the interest of preserving this nation as a unit and avoiding creating any window of opportunity for partisan grandstanding, there is utility in ensuring that every step of the way the SSRAP, as it is being implemented, the society is kept abreast. It is also helpful that actions that could create fodder or lend perception to allegations of wastage of resources, corruption, and the Government of Guyana undermining the nation’s sovereignty be avoided. It doesn’t take much in this polarised polity for citizens to become side-tracked and the best of intent derailed.
In recalling a 2009 allegation by the then government that the SSRAP implementation meant Guyana’s sovereignty would be subverted by the UK- though that government played a role in its conceptualisation and development- this became the major reason to scrap this US$4.7B project. Guyana can ill-afford to go down this road again. Recognising these aforesaid factors, it would be incumbent on law enforcement, the subject ministry and minister to ensure proper implementation and take pro-active approaches to minimise the propagation of fake news, in realising a project that is of importance to the country and people’s security and development.