PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has appealed to all Guyanese, regardless of their political affiliation, to work towards the strengthening of the nation’s security.Addressing the Officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) during the opening of their annual conference at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, the President said: “We cannot continue to have opposition for the sake of having opposition”.

He raised the question of how one could explain the two occasions that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, was voted down by the political Opposition. “How could you explain that when you’re putting the citizens of the country in danger, and at the same time creating the perception that you want to turn this country from a haven for criminal and international drug traffickers. That is unacceptable. That cannot be politics as usual. That is creating a terrible situation for our people in our country”.

President Ramotar also questioned the calls made by the political Opposition to the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) to prevent money for the Citizens Security Strengthening Project from coming to the security forces. Some US$15 million is earmarked for the GPF, Civil Service and community based initiatives to deal with the root cause of crimes, he said.
“This cannot be politics and we must do our best to ensure that our security forces have both the laws and the wherewithal to fight crimes both internal and trans-border. I appeal for good sense.”
The Head of State also called on the political parties to ensure that before, during and after the upcoming elections, they pledge their support to the GPF and the joint services. He said, “They must appeal to their constituency, and their staff, to display maturity and patriotism and demonstrate to the world that we are a progressive and responsible people”.