I HAVE a very important question or two. I am thinking here of ‘laughing (laughed at really) policemen’ and ‘wasted opportunities.’
The story is that Anil McTurk, 25, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, in order to answer to the charge of escaping from lawful custody, from the Camp Street Prison, Georgetown.
Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, taking all the ‘circumstances’ into consideration, sentenced the defendant to nine months imprisonment. Now what are these ‘considerations?’
Anil McTurk did plead guilty to the charge, which stated that on January 16, he escaped, while being in lawful custody. But and what?
Well this was after his conviction for simple larceny. The ‘joke’ is that the defendant was discovered missing, and an alarm was raised. Later, with the help of the police, he was located, in a yard, at Lombard Street.
The ‘tragedy’ is that McTurk stated that he was frustrated and wanted to get out of prison, so he ‘escaped.’ It is like, ‘so what?’ No big deal!
He went on to explain that he was serving an 18-month sentence, for simple larceny, and had already served 14 months. Wow! So it got to him I guess.
However, how can a convict, charged for escaping from prison, be sentenced to nine months of imprisonment, and there is no mention of ‘dereliction of duties?’ This to me is the greater problem.
‘Police work’ is all too non-serious. Imagine a mere lad embarrassing the force! It seems like a game of ‘ketcha’ and ‘hide and seek.’ Honestly, most of the present members of the Guyana Police Force need a ‘good thrashing.’
The job of a policeman is most important. How come the magistrate did not single out the ‘folly’ of these officers? Maybe she did, but that was not in the report.
Now, regarding this young man, where are his parents? What he did in his youthful days? Why was he not capitalising on his education?
I can only wish that the ‘guardians’ of the law really get down to seriousness. I also hope that this 25-year-old serves his time, and then resort to a profitable lifestyle.