I write this letter with the hope that it will catch the attention of the relevant authorities with regard to the way in which some of the young police officers carry out their duties. These young officers bring total frustration to the bus operators and passengers travelling to and from Georgetown to Lethem.

The following are some of the major grouses:
(a) Although Immigration has already cleared passengers in Georgetown, upon reaching the Linden Police Station, they are told that their travelling documents are not in order. This is done intentionally to obtain money from passengers.

(b) It seems to me that the Georgetown /Lethem buses are specially targeted. I could recall that on January 13 this year, the police at Providence stopped the bus in which I was travelling, and threatened the driver with a charge unless money was paid over. The driver obliged.

(c)  They are even claiming that drivers might be trafficking in illegal fuel because of the bottles of fuel they carry in their buses. This is strictly for emergency purposes on the trail where is no gas station.

(d) I am calling on the authorities concerned with the road projects there to speed up the work on the road from the Mabura crossing. This road is in a deplorable state, and when the buses are seen to be in a dirty condition because of the state of the road, the police are charging drivers or they have to pay a bribe.

In conclusion, I am calling on the higher police authority to look into these problems that bus drivers and travellers to Lethem have to face because of the unprofessional behaviour of some of the policemen.