THE CALL on Friday by PNCR parliamentarian Deborah Backer that members of our security forces must “perform or go home” is both encouraging and intriguing. Encouraging since, as her party’s shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Backer would be aware of the general sentiment across Guyana, and across political boundaries, for our security forces to be more forthcoming in aggressively dealing with armed criminals, drug traffickers and others involved in the waves of murder and robberies.
Intriguing, in the sense that her statement, on behalf of the PNCR, has come at a time when the Guyana Police Force has intensified its anti-crime campaign, and is currently involved in rounding-up criminals suspected of murders and armed robberies.
If parliamentarian Backer and her party have been inspired by the national outcry against the rising cases of execution-style murders, as well as the outrageous circumstances surrounding the killing of the teenager, Neesa Gopaul, then it is quite understandable.
It would be a reflection of the general mood at this time; a mood captured and being acted upon by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 
The rising concerns and fears resulting from the new wave of drive-by executions should also serve to remind the GPF of the anxieties, across the country, for rigorous, concerted assaults to apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice — wherever their location, whoever they are.
In offering this observation, we also wish to make reference to a letter published in our yesterday’s edition and written by parliamentarian Clement Rohee in his capacity as member of the Executive and Central Committee of the governing PPP. As is known, Rohee is also Minister of Home Affairs.
Rohee drew attention to a recent public admission by Rupert Roopnarine, a leading figure of the Working People’s Alliance, that the WPA had collected arms and equipment from various sources, some belonging to the Guyana Defence Force, at the time of the Forbes Burnham administration.
The PPP executive made the significant observation that the PNC was also known for having obtained illegal arms and equipment.
We do not know how these weapons were obtained and used to maintain the then political status quo; but all Guyanese are aware that among the many political and other murdered victims, the best known was the eminent historian and crusader for social justice, Dr Walter Rodney.
Rohee’s letter to the media was prompted by recent calls of opposition parties for an inquiry into the criminal operations of ‘phantom groups’.
And therefore, he contends that “it is hypocritical for the PNC and WPA to harp on the thread-worn issue of ‘phantom groups’ when they are guilty of serious transgressions in the security sector…”