THE Ministry of Home Affairs has highlighted the fact that it is the responsibility of the Guyana Police Force to deal with matters of law and order, and denounced two recent incidents of vigilante killing of suspected thieves.

In a press statement, the Home Affairs Ministry denounced “such action by citizens who choose to take the law into their own hands.”
The Home Affairs Ministry also asserted that while it is recognized that citizens have a right to defend themselves and property, “this must be done in collaboration with the lawful authority and suspects must be allowed due process.”
In that light, citizens are being encouraged to desist from responding violently as was done against Alfred Munroe of Manchester, Corentyne, Berbice, and Nigel Lowe of Sophia, Georgetown, “and are warned that persons who engage in such acts, when found, will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.”
The ministry further stated that it is apposite to note the deafening silence coming from the Guyana Human Rights Association and other interest groups, as well as the main opposition parties, which are usually vocal in their condemnation of lawmen, when deaths occur in their pursuit of criminal elements.
“Consistency rather than selectivity in responding to such occurrences should be practised by those who claim to be interested in law and order, and the value of life,” the statement concluded.