The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is urging Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to heighten their strategies and implement urgent, even emergency, measures to prevent crime in various communities.

In a recently issued press release, the federation pointed out that daily violence by bandits has resulted in numerous murders as the emboldened criminals utilize various weapons to terrorise and harm innocent citizens, quite often in their own homes.
“Despite the assurances and advice to the Guyanese public from the Commissioner of Police (a.g.) Leroy Brummel and with indifference to all the comparative statistics, the nation is never-the-less alarmed and intimidated by the most obvious escalation and upsurge in violent crime across the country,” the release stated
According to the release, FITUG observes, with daily growing concern, that these hold-ups, robberies, burglaries, physical assaults by the bandits, are affecting the poor working-class.
The federation in the release further stated that besides the more comfortable business-people, poorer workers are victims in their communities, market-places and homes with some of these crimes not even being officially reported.
“FITUG suggests an all-out strategy to deprive the thieves of their illegal weapons; to stop and search, at public places, for knives and other implements being used for illegal purposed. We go so far as to suggest that the Ministries of Home Affairs, Local Government and Works, identify high-profile vulnerable communities in dire need for improved public lighting and better roads to aid police quick response measures,” the release stated.
These proposals, FITUG said, are good for both the immediate and the long-term, but tough measures must be approved now.
According to the release, the Federation is not oblivious to the fact that the causes of crime must be addressed; that home, school and church must play a role in fashioning patient youth with orientation to honest work; that government programmes must provide investment and employment, even though it cannot be accepted that poverty is a real excuse for violent crime.
However, FITUG stated that whilst these issues are being addressed, urgent visible action by the GPF is warranted.
“All across the ten (10) administrative regions – from Corentyne to Charity and in the hinterland, property and lives are being appropriated. Guyana’s images must not come across as any “crime capital” with gruesome murder rates, as obtains elsewhere. Foreign investors, members of the Guyanese Diaspora, tourist will all shun our destination, even as our own resident population live in fear,” the release added.
FITUG in the release urged drastic action now, replete with additional resources, while declaring that “this is not “panic” it is a call for prevention.”