THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) has written President David Granger requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the country’s crime situation. In the letter, which the PSC issued to the media, it was stated that the Commission and other members of the business community are “deeply disturbed” over the current situation, especially as the country gears up to celebrate its Golden Jubilee.
The PSC made it clear to the President that the situation is eroding investor confidence at a time when Guyana wants to attract the diaspora and other visitors to join in the celebrations.
“The Private Sector Commission has met twice with the Honourable Minister of Public Security and with the Commissioner of Police to no avail. We firmly believe that the citizens of this country can no longer live in fear of their lives and a more aggressive strategy is needed to curb the high-profile crimes which are headlined daily,” the letter to the President stated.
The PSC acknowledged that the current crime situation is not a recent phenomenon and recognised that the ability of the Police Force to solve crimes has improved.
“We are, however, of the view that we are in dire need of an approach which is focused on the prevention of crime and that this approach must be communicated widely. We are therefore seeking an urgent audience with you,” the letter to the President concluded.
The PSC’s letter comes a day after statistics by the police force revealed that there was a 19 percent decrease in serious crimes at the end of the first quarter of this year, when compared to the same period last year.
According to the statistics, there was a nine percent reduction in reports of murder; nine percent decrease in gun-related robberies; eight percent decrease in armed robberies; 38 percent decrease in robberies with violence; 38 percent decrease in robberies with aggravation; 18 percent decrease in rape; and 22 percent decrease in break and enter and larceny.