SINCE 2002-2003, government maintained crime fighting as a top priority and embarked to enhance existing crime fighting methods to ensure that national security prevails.

It should be noted that anything that compromises the development of a society, or narrows the range of policy choices available to the Government is deemed a threat to national security.

For this reason, government thought it was necessary to establish a Security Sector Reform Action Plan which encompassed the review of existing crime legislations, the enhancement of intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination, the improvement of the Criminal Investigation Department and Forensic Capability, and to train police on modern crime fighting methods and techniques.

This year, $13.6 billion is allocated to the security sector. Proceeds will be used to rehabilitate physical infrastructure, such as the police stations, police colleges, officers’ quarters, construction of cells and fire stations. Monies will also be directed towards the acquisition of equipment, training personnel, strengthening community policing groups, and improving accountability within the security sector.

Government is projected to embark on the implementation of an integrated crime information system. This implementation will enable the facilitation of more timely access to information for the analysis of crimes, reinforce capacity to analyze patterns, incidents and problems, and supplement the capacity of the Crime Observatory Unit.

Also, steps have been taken to enhance the Judicial System within Guyana. This is being done through “The Guyana Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2006-2010”, which stipulates that it is a plan to ensure the safety, security and access to justice for all. This plan aims to strengthen the management, administration and financing of the Judiciary and the office of the DPP to ensure that laws are interpreted fairly.

With respect to the backlog of cases, Judges and Magistrates will now be sanctioned to clear time standards for case dispositions and will be removed for failing to make timely decisions. Article 197 (3) …states that ‘A Judge may be removed from office… for persistently not writing decisions or for continuously failing to give decisions and reasons therefore within such time as may be specified by parliament…”

Plans are also geared to improve judicial training for Judges and Magistrates, so as to enhance their functioning capabilities within the Court.

However, even with the most intense crime fighting mechanisms onboard, crime will escalate without the cooperation of the ordinary citizens.

Even though the police, courts, etc., may try to control crime, we must realize that their scope for further crime reduction is limited. And realize that we have a legal duty to assist law enforcement officers, so that they can perform their duties effectively.

And so, it is essential to note that government requires the full support of its people to work on the implementation of these plans, so as to ensure there is national security in Guyana and within the region.
MARISSA LOWDEN