I was shocked to read how some sections of the Guyana media slant their so called news stories to try and discredit the disciplined forces like the police when they undertake routine work benefitting the nation. Look at the item in Tuesday’s edition of another section of the press about a police raid against suspected illegal drug activity in the De Veldt and Gateroy areas of Berbice River.
The headline blares out: “Residents blast police.” All the allegedly interviewed residents are quoted against the raid. What about others who, probably, would have supported the police’s actions? This exclusion of a representative sampling from the communities is not objective and responsible journalism. It is sloppy sensationalism and hearsay to boost readership figures.
Like all tabloid press stuff, there is also humour, though non-intentional from the paper. One so called resident is quoted (twice) as complaining that the police didn’t see anybody doing anything wrong, so why were persons targeted? Really? Naturally, every person, anywhere in the world, bent on wrong doing would like the police to wait until they actually witness the crime before the law moves into action.  The fact of the matter is that a miniscule of crimes are solved from the police actually “catching people red handed” (in the act). Officers would have received reliable intelligence (information) about the apparent illegal goings on, knew which individuals to go after and so on.
The other hilarious part of the so called reporting by the newspaper is when somebody moaned that, during the operation, two people were ordered out of a boat they were paddling before it could reach shore. Now, friends, let us imagine what the police should say:  “Excuse us Sirs, sorry to bother you. We will wait patiently behind you until you reach shore because we have all the time in the world, in the process giving others who may have observed us the time to destroy incriminating evidence”.
Then there is the usual generalising from the particular from acolytes who love to see such news about crime in Guyana. They bleat, shamefully trying to besmirch the good reputation of their country, that the drug seizures and detentions only confirm that Guyana has gone to the dogs.
I am not blaming the communities of De Veldt and Gateroy. As I said, the majority are probably law abiding. They have to be wary of reporters from an irresponsible media, running around and quoting from individuals to slant, effectively, an anti-police item.
Folks, the scourge of drug trafficking is a regional thing. If you visit some of the police yards in Barbados , especially those on the west coast facing St. Vincent island one hundred miles to the west,  you will find them filled with seized “drug boats” and big outboard engines . Almost weekly, there are reports in the Bajan media about boats landing drugs on the beaches. Dozens of people are in Barbados’ jail charged with these offences, or serving sentences.
The Police, whether it is in Guyana or Barbados, have a job to do. We the citizenry must do everything to support them. Those misguided and unpatriotic “thinking of me own belly” handful of individuals must feel the full weight of the law.  If there are legitimate complaints (that the wrong boats, engines and other property were seized for example or about rogue officers), then there are appropriate channels for redress.  Running to the sensationalist media like the one in question, which will twist reality to sell more papers, is a waste of time. It brings down the good image of the communities, and hard working and decent people there, and could make things more difficult for the ongoing investigations.