MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, while meeting with the private sector of the Corentyne, said that there is no perfect Police Force in the world. Most people in Guyana and the world at large do understand this. But what many people in Guyana do not understand is why Guyanese are saying they are more afraid of the police than bandits. Why are the gates of police stations closed at nights?
Why 911 rings out or when answered the police say they have no vehicle at the moment or just one police officer is at the station?
When one sees the police locking their doors and gates at nights then can you imagine how citizens feel?
If the police are afraid of bandits then close your eyes and think and imagine the ordinary citizens who are left to fend for themselves against bandits with high-powered weaponry.
Mr. Rohee noted too that he usually asks people for evidence when they come to him and report bribes being solicited by the police. “They say they don’t want any trouble…just to bring the evidence to prove that this policeman is corrupt, even that they don’t want to do.”
Mr. Rohee why do you think the people are saying they don’t want any trouble?
Once that person is identified and gets that police officer into trouble, then you have to deal with friends of that police officer who will make life miserable for that individual.
This is exactly the perfect reason why the people are saying they are more afraid of the police than the bandits.
Mr. Rohee two things here that can be done with regard to free press reporting and rogue police officers.
Do some sting operations in police stations across Guyana and you will see what citizens have to deal with on a daily basis.
Set up sting operations on the streets of Guyana especially in traffic and again you will see what motorists have to deal with.
Finally, do sting operations on those police officers who wear the rope across their chests to see who they are dealing with, especially on Thursdays and Fridays.
Check whose big homes and big businesses these police officers go to on those days.
Most citizens know the police are going to collect their dues from unscrupulous people.
With regard to the press, Mr. Rohee is correct in saying: “Somebody just got to say, in a rum shop or in a cake shop or bus stop that last night I see Clement Rohee been pissing pon a lantern post; it ain’t happen, never happened, but somebody just got to tell somebody that– and it gone- -from one tongue to the next and don’t be surprised if you see it in ‘Dem Boys Seh’ or a newspaper.”
Mr. Rohee this is a very simple matter to shut out and stamp out and never to happen again.
Once the free press prints something that is totally false, then take very serious action against that press and make the owners pay the ultimate price.
The owners of this free press are doing what they set out to do and that is to sell newspapers, so anything goes.
Do not allow any of them to say freedom of press and freedom of speech to justify their lies. Change the laws if this is the case.