I AM most heartened by the foiling of the multi-million-dollar robbery on Tuesday at the Bel Air Gardens home of popular city businessman, Malcolm Panday. The act shows a great level of seriousness on the part of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), regarding crimes in Guyana.
I do heartily congratulate them. I hope that this will serve as a moment of inspiration for all Guyanese. As I reflect on the incident, I posit two very important aspects of crime-fighting.
First, the general citizenry must co-operate. This does not mean ‘suicidal bravery stunts’ at all.
It means that when there are suspicious and questionable activities of any kind, the police must be informed. The same holds true as regards people as well. Nothing and no one must be taken for granted. Crime-fighting is every body’s business, and if people simply do their civic best, the situation will head towards a quelling.

The second thought that went through my mind is that of the ‘bashing of the GPF’ by many anti PPP/C critics. Sometimes a terribly bad picture is painted of the situation here in Guyana. However, Guyana is not a bedlam and it is not being run over by hoodlums.

Under the present regime, investments have been immense and diverse. For example, there is an assiduous effort being put in the area of training, intelligence gathering and acquiring of equipment. I hope that, as the government does its part, the nation as a whole will give the necessary support.

Congratulations once again, and a big ‘thank you’ to the GPF, but especially for those directly involved in the foiling of the act.