A homeowner, on looking out of his window and seeing a police cruiser, should then be able rest peacefully with his family within the sanctuary of his home, safe in the knowledge that the nation’s protectors are protecting the nation, and that bandits will have to beware.

But what happens when the protector becomes the hunter? When security forces sent to protect the innocent citizens of the land from bandits in the backlands of the nation take the lives of innocent persons going about their simple pursuits – such as the sugar workers who were kidnapped and slain aback Buxton? What happens when arms and ammunition disappear from army bonds, only to be found later in the hands of bandits? What happens when decent citizens of the land go with hope to make a complaint to police ranks, who can only identify with the lawless elements of society and treat the decent people of the land like criminals? What happens when the citizens of the land call on police ranks for help and their response is that they do not have vehicles, yet the police vehicles are seen ferrying girlfriends and other family members, making personal airport runs, providing recreational support to ranks, but never available to render assistance to the taxpaying citizens of the land? What happens when drunken drivers are set free after paying a traffic rank a raise? What happens when someone who is not guilty of any crime gets hassled by the police on the instructions of someone to whom they are related, or by whom they were rewarded? And what happens when the coast guards of the land sent to protect the citizens from pirates instead become pirates themselves?

What happens is that they are protected by their own who may know of their culpability but choose to turn a blind eye – either because of fraternal sentiments, or else they share in the spoils.

As in the instance where police are said to have taken payoffs for turning a ‘Nelson’s’ eye to criminal and, murderous activities of army personnel.

Who will police the police – and the army? And whom can we trust?

There are numerous reports of police in the rural areas taking a beer and a meal and allowing free-for-all fetes that disturb the peace of the neighbourhood in communities.

There are reports where drug houses flourish because security ranks themselves are users and take payoffs in kind – and cash.

Citizens in the Canje area claim that the police in Reliance allow a certain set of criminals out of cells to steal in the night, providing them with an airtight alibi because they all share in the spoils.

An opposition party is always calling on their “kith and kin” in the joint services and telling them, even by implication, that they should not go after armed bandits, but are the victims also not their “kith and kin”?

Obviously they have managed to convince some members of the joint services that lawlessness is the better option, and that serving oneself – and the agenda of opposition political parties, is paramount to serving the nation, hence the many nefarious activities – theft of arms and ammunition from army stock, for instance, as well as some questionable movements by some police and army ranks who were stationed at Buxton.

How can the nation trust the law-enforcement agencies to enforce against their own? The fact of the matter is that we cannot, and that is why anti-social, even criminal activities by members of Guyana’s security services proliferate.

How could one imagine the terror and the pain of the victims, especially the 10-yr-old child, who may have witnessed the murder of his father and uncle, knowing that his turn was next?

How does one hear the word “Police, open the door,” without fear and trepidation? Because many bandits come in that guise, even if they wear the uniform legally and legitimately.

Distrust of security service personnel is palpable in the nation – and the sad and disappointing fact is that it is only a few bad eggs who have caused a stench that makes the entire joint services reek.

As for the girlfriends and relatives of bandits and pirates who covet and collect the blood money for which many lives were devastated, including children and other dependents of victims, it is sweet until their own loved ones are gunned down, then they all protest that their murderous family members were Bible-toting angels, and vow vengeance and cry for justice, but who will provide justice to the victims? Certainly not the GHRA nor the opposition cabal, including some sections of the media, who vociferously champion the murderers – in or out of uniform, non-stop.

Who will police the police – and the army? The police and the army will. That is, if they seriously desire to re-establish trust between themselves and the nation once more, enough that the really duty-motivated ranks are not tarred with the same brush that painted over the coastguard vessel that was used to prey on and kill the innocent citizens of the land.