IN today’s world, criminals are using every possible avenue to carry out their dastardly and sometimes brutal acts. And increasingly the rivers and seas are being resorted to, particularly with respect to the illicit drug and arms trade, smuggling of goods and of course piracy which has become a serious problem.
In Guyana, one can recall the daring robbery several years ago on a commercial bank on the Essequibo coast in which the brave Constable, Richard Faikal, was unfortunately killed after engaging the bandits in a gun battle. It was the river that was used by the bandits to both reach the bank and make their escape with their booty. More recently, a few months ago, the Commander of “B” Division of the Guyana Police Force led a raid along the Berbice River which unearthed a large number of high speed boats which are being used to transport illicit drugs. Piracy, especially in Berbice, resulted in several fishermen losing their boats and engines and also several murders have taken place in the seas and rivers. And then there is cross-border crimes – there is smuggling of goods, arms, illegal drugs and movement of criminals across the rivers that separate us from neighbours Suriname on the east, Venezuela on the west and to a lesser extent Brazil on the south. So our security forces face a heavy challenge on the water-front which is getting increasingly tough as the criminals become innovative and acquire modern equipment to ply their “trade.” It is therefore imperative that the marine capability of our security forces is bolstered to the level to cope with the growing menace in the sea and rivers, the latter which we have in abundance.
Of course in developing countries like ours, resources are always a big question and therefore deciding on priorities is sometimes very baffling because, quite frequently, decisions have to be made as to whether a particular sum of money should be spent on schools, hospitals, roads or security.
As such, it is never an easy situation which unfortunately some do not understand, appreciate and acknowledge and quite a few who understand engage in distortions and misrepresentations to foster their personal agenda, be it political or otherwise. However, Home Affairs Minister Clement Roheee has acknowledged the importance of building and strengthening the marine capacity of the security forces and this has been tangibly demonstrated with the acquiring of a patrol boat for the police which was handed over last Monday. Rohee noted that any modern police force must be equipped adequately and hence the acquisition of a boat for the marine section to respond to crimes on the rivers and territorial sea as they work collaboratively with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to curb smuggling and illicit trade. He added that the police marine branch can now be involved in authorised interdiction activities with the relevant law enforcement agencies in securing the waterways. The acquiring of the boat is a significant step forward and great boost for the marine capability of the police. It is fully powered and equipped with four engines and all modern amenities, such as a fridge, bathroom, sinks, and a stove. Police Commissioner Henry Greene noted that based on their budget, the boat was the best they could acquire and they will be dealing with piracy and other water based criminal activities. One would now hope that, as resources allow, the marine department of the Guyana Police Force will be further strengthened and modernised to ensure greater security and safety in our rivers and the sea.