ONCE again, we are witnessing an upsurge of violent crime. Once again, the PPP support base appears largely to be the victim. We have seen this situation occurring time and time again over the last twenty years. There are a few factors which I wish to highlight. They are as follows.

1. Historically, the opposition has had a long association with criminal elements and criminal enterprises. We are aware of the violent crimes which flowed from the opposition inspired, sponsored and orchestrated protest actions immediately after the 1992, 1997 and 2001 General and Regional Elections. Dozens of innocent Guyanese were killed, beaten and robbed. Dozens of private and public properties were burnt, damaged and destroyed. The PNC led the way. “Mo fyah, slow fyah” was the chant. Making the country ungovernable was their motto.

2. The opposition’s association with criminals is well documented. Blackie London was embraced, a notorious criminal, who murdered, raped and robbed innocent Guyanese right across the coastland, was embraced by them as a hero. When the Police eventually killed him, the opposition took over his funeral, draped the national flag around his coffin and marched with it through the streets of Georgetown.

3. The opposition’s close association with the criminal gang who escaped from the Prisons on Mash Day, 2001 and sought refuge in Buxton, are well known. This was a group that launched an all out attack against the citizenry as well as the Law enforcement agencies. Dozens of people, including prominent business men, were assassinated, kidnapped and robbed. They murdered and raped and torched the houses of several residents of Buxton as they held the village under siege. Dozens of policemen and army officers were executed, some burnt alive by this marauding gang. Several top PNC leaders were seen going into Buxton in the dark of the night to meet with these criminals. Desmond Hoyte addressed a meeting at Buxton Railway line during this period, where instead of applauses; gunshots rang out, triggered by this gang. The impact had this entire nation and every law abiding citizen in utter trauma and fear. Whenever any of these criminals were arrested or charged, lawyers within the opposition camp were quick to represent and advocate in their defense.

4. Fast forward to 2012 -2013, we saw protest actions in Linden, encouraged and sponsored by leaders of the APNU and AFC. Again, dozens of Guyanese were robbed and beaten. Again, properties were stolen, burnt and damaged. Again, four persons were killed and about a dozen injured on July 18th, 2012.

5. Then came Agricola, where marauding gangs took over the public road, blocking the access of thousands of Guyanese. Again, dozens of people were robbed, properties damaged, women sexually assaulted. On this occasion, from all the evidence available, this event was sponsored and managed by the AFC.

6. When an examination is done of these incidents over the last twenty years, a common thread emerges. Each of the above bouts of criminal violence occurred on the heels of some political fallout between the PPP/C administration and the opposition, either at the General and Regional Elections, in the Parliament or at inter-party dialogues. This makes the opposition’s argument, that they have no connection with criminals and these criminal actions, one that is incredulous.

7. There are other factors which further cement a connection between criminal violence and the opposition in our political landscape.

8. The opposition has, historically, been very critical of any effective crime fighting unit within the Guyana Police Force, thus, their campaign against the Black Clothes Unit which was eventually disbanded. They have always been critical of joint operations between the army and the police, in respect of crime fighting. They have never been supportive of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ efforts to improve the capabilities of the Law enforcement agencies. Indeed, one cannot discount their mass demonstrations against former Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj.

9. It is in this context and against this historical backdrop that one must view their non-support for the reforms, which are being undertaken by comrade Clement Rohee in the security sector. Their irrational non-support in the Parliament for Minister Rohee, himself, and the rejection of very important crime fighting laws, which have been tabled in the National Assembly by Minister Rohee are all factors which support the contention of a close and working relationship among crime, criminals and the opposition.

10. Recently, in the National Assembly, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs made the fundamental point that in the war against crime, there are but only two sides. You either stand on the side of the law or you stand on the side of the criminals. The opposition has long chosen the side of the criminals.

11. Again, as you are aware, there is a political fallout between the PPP/C administration and the opposition on a number of issues in Parliament. Once again, we see the opposition’s non support for security reforms