‘Wrong and Strong’ aptly describes the contentious attitudes of relatives and sympathisers of deadly thieves and killers, whose murderous rampages have left many homes destitute of precious lives and possessions.

Seeking to blame the Police and/or others for the demonic actions of their relatives merely adds to the vileness of these persons who seek to justify the murder of sleeping babies and other innocents in the sanctity of their homes, or in pursuit of their respective endeavours.
Among the throngs who attended the funerals of the two-legged beasts who finally met their Waterloo were obviously many who provided them with shelter and succour in exchange for some of their booty.
And while the actual bandits paid the ultimate price for their crimes, these aides and abettors are no less culpable of the deaths and destruction of the lives of innocent persons targeted, for sometimes indecipherable reasons, by these monsters, who epitomise evil.
As are the instigators and planners, for these – according to Tacuma Ogunsye, ‘Freedom Fighters,’ who were and are obviously encouraged on the basis that their infamous actions were for a greater calling, although not much encouragement would be necessary for these indisputably merciless demons to pursue what they perceive as easily-acquired riches, especially when they are provided the wherewithal to do so, in the form of arms, ammunition, political protection, and a network of relatives and supporters to provide food, shelter and transportation in exchange for a share of the loot.
Most likely, while the intent would have been present in the perpetrators, it probably would not have solidified into reality without encouragement and assistance, as well as a promise of vindication – in whatever form that took. In Blackie’s case he was made a ‘hero’. Andrew Douglas was described as a ‘martyr’.
The attempts to lionise these demonic beings are indications of degradation in the human psyche best described by Dante. Even worse was the farcical desecration of two national symbols, both sacred in their own right – Guyana’s National Flag and Cuffy Square, by no less than the then Leader of the Opposition, Desmond Hoyte – the famous architect of ‘slo’ fiah, Mo’ fiah’.
But what could we call the victims of these ‘heroes’ and ‘martyrs,’ among whom are members of every race and religious persuasion in Guyana?
In 1959, one Cuffy was killed by the police after a desperate manhunt. A policeman was killed during this encounter, while others were wounded.
In May 1997, police shot and killed four bandits who had broken into the home of former Elections Commission head, Mr. Rudy Collins.
Brave Police Corporal Faikall was killed when he confronted four armed men in 1997.
One Saturday night, twenty-four-old policeman, Adrian Williams, was shot and killed while investigating a report.
One media house carried a story on 2nd August 1997, under the title ‘Armed bandits strike terror in Stewartville’, which tells of a Canada-based family chopped and terrorised by armed bandits who stole everything, including important documents.
On 31st January,1998 the headlines read ‘Man serious after being shot in Eccles robbery’.
The headlines of the Guyana Chronicle of 5th February, 1998 stated: ‘Eccles residents in fear of bandits’.
The rampages of the ‘jailbreak gang’, and subsequent gangs, including that of ‘Fineman’, are well-documented.
And down the years the stories of crime sprees escalated, with sometimes mass massacres reported.
Cuffy’s own family refused his body and he was buried as a pauper because his father, who was a poor cartman, rejected a son who had shamed him by making crime his profession.
But that was when Guyanese were proud and decent, with lofty ideals and high standards, whether rich or poor.
Some sections of society today ‘follow de Leader’ and certain sections of the media do not care if they cause a conflagration in the land if they could satisfy ‘de Leader’ and profit by it.
The contention of some prominent members of society that the killers should be captured for questioning, even while the police come under their fire, would be ludicrous if it did not have such serious implications.
Psyched out by preceding instances of deaths and injuries to ranks and the evasive strategies of the criminals, as well as the criticism of society and the media, the Joint Services many times have no recourse but a spontaneous conclusion to an unrelenting manhunt that span the country, leaving countless casualties in its wake..
The ranks are at times engaged in deadly confrontations with criminals who are famous for pulling every trick in the book to make evasive and successful escape bids.
Self-defence is an automatic reaction to brutal forces and the unknown factor of possible accomplices create a climate for a spontaneous response to the dynamics of the battle, especially in situations where bandits are shooting to kill.
Stealing and subverting the truth are both dishonest acts. Some media houses are adept at the latter, regardless the cost to society.
In this regard they align themselves to the bandits and disregard the plight of the victims and the pain and devastated lives of their loved ones. The bandits have many champions, but who champions the rights of the victims?