THE Guyana Police Force is responding to an article published in the Guyana Times of Wednesday June 17, 2009, under the editorial “Reminding the police.”
The editorial stemmed from the recent publication in the print media by the Ministry of Home Affairs of a number of premises that are of concern, as a number of citizens had complained to the Ministry about noise nuisance emanating from the locations listed, and focused on the handling of matters pertaining to noise nuisance as well as domestic violence by the police. In relation to noise nuisance it was stated that “Over the years numerous complaints have surfaced about loud noises emanating from different sources and affecting the lives of citizens. Perhaps, what was more infuriating to the citizens than the noise itself was the willful negligence of the police to act in matters requiring them to defend the law.”

On the issue of domestic violence it was stated that “Domestic violence is the number one issue that highlights the failure of the police to act…….The La Jalousie murder of one week ago revealed a situation where reports made to the police against the perpetrator did not produce the results expected.

The article then proceeds to make the spurious claim that “the police have shown little understanding of the law they are mandated to uphold, which is why they cannot adequately protect citizens.”

The Guyana Police Force unequivocally refutes the article which not only contains a number of spurious assertions but has neither sought to acquire and/or display any information on the knowledge of police operations.

This continuous ‘beating up’ of the Police Force on matters without any evidence begs the question of what is the motive. The Police Force considers this type of poor journalism unmistakably designed to frustrate the relentless efforts of its ranks to enforce the laws and to sully its image and reputation.

The Guyana Police Force wishes to point out the erroneous nature of the editorial and to state emphatically that we have been exhibiting a ‘zero tolerance’ on both the issue of noise nuisance and domestic violence but, to a great extent, our efforts at enforcement are being stymied by the reluctance of persons to follow through on the matters after making their initial reports to the police.

The records indicate that for the year so far 68 persons have been charged with noise nuisance, with 41 of these matters in progress before the courts.

Contrary to what is being implied by the Guyana Times article in relation to the death of Omattie Kalicharran of La Jalousie, WCD, the police did respond positively to the one report she had made against her former reputed husband and in which she had requested that a warning be given.

On September 30, 2008, Omattie Kalicharran had reported to the police at Den Amstel Police Station that it is a habit of Vishnu Datt (her former reputed husband) to be calling on her telephone and abusing her and that sometimes he would stop at her residence and abuse her. She requested that he be warned by the police and this was subsequently done. There is no record of any other report made by Omattie Kalicharran against Vishnu Datt.

There is also the recent case of Krishundai Singh of Cornelia Ida, WCD, who was fatally stabbed by her reputed husband on June 12, 2009. On May 26, 2009, she had made a report of assault against him to the police and he was arrested and charged. She later appeared in court and requested no further action against him and he was placed on a bond to keep the peace for two years.

The Guyana Police Force had recently made a public communication through the media, including the Guyana Times, on the issue of domestic violence which is being referred to once more in view of the comments made by the Guyana Times.

Over a number of years, the Guyana Police Force has pursued an aggressive policy of training for its members in Domestic Violence in view of its serious effect on society, and has adopted a zero tolerance approach aimed at taking the appropriate action against all perpetrators.

This training has now become institutionalised, forming part of the curriculum for recruits at the Felix Austin Police College and deals with the dynamics and implications of domestic violence and the Force’s policy and procedures for responding to reports of domestic violence.

In the effective conduct of its role and responsibility under the Domestic Violence Act of 1996, the Guyana Police Force is networking and collaborating with several governmental and non-governmental organizations on the issue of domestic violence inclusive of Help and Shelter, Red Thread and the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security with a number of persons being referred specifically with a view to receive counselling.

With the Force’s zero tolerance policy, no police rank can opt to “settle” any matter involving domestic violence, but must take the appropriate actions leading to the matter being placed before the court.

This year’s statistics indicate that unto June 22, 2009, the police have received a total of 2,488 reports of domestic violence, as a consequence of which 694 cases have been made and 530 persons warned at the request of the reporters.

The Guyana Police Force has put in place institutional structures/mechanism at Headquarters, Divisional, Sub Divisional and Station levels to ensure appropriate responses to reports of domestic violence; and as far as practicable reports of domestic violence made at stations are being dealt with in areas that afford privacy and confidentiality.

A central Domestic Violence Unit has been established at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters with overall responsibility for monitoring the Domestic Violence Desk within the Divisions and Sub-Divisions in terms of implementation of the relevant Force policies and procedures and the outcome of reports and cases before the court.

The Force will continue to maintain its vigilance in these matters and take the appropriate action where necessary.