PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Clement Rohee yesterday lashed out at the government for the upsurge in crime, and not doing the things it said it would within its first 100 days in office. Though he did not go into full details, Rohee said that of the 21 promises made by the coalition, two are partly completed, eight are in the process of being completed, and nine are in the advance stage of completion.

In other words, he was saying that the coalition government has failed to fulfil one single promise it made in the first 100 days in office. And on top of that, he claimed that the budget is a large-scale copy of the plans and projects of the former Administration.
The former Home Affairs Minister informed the House that of some 34 projects under infrastructural development, 27 have their origins in the PPP/C Manifesto.
Painting a dire picture of the government, Rohee said in light of the slowdown in the economy, Guyana has become a haven for audits, reviews and investigations.
He said that all told, nine audits are being conducted, two probes, 12 investigations and two Commissions of Inquiry. He is of the opinion that the time and money invested in these exercises have been very costly to the State, and went on to suggest that this is one of the contributing factors to the slowdown of business in the country.
The Administration has indeed launched a series of audits into several State agencies to weed out corruption and ensure greater accountability and transparency, but the Opposition is challenging the Government to declare the costs of these investigations, in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Rohee went on to say that Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said that the Administration will punish the PPP/C, a claim that provoked the minister at reference into springing to his feet and denouncing it as false.
COMMENDATIONS
Visibly charged and firing on all pistons, Rohee amid loud heckling from the government benches eased up on the hostility and commended rice farmers, sugar workers, gold and bauxite miners for keeping the wheels of production in the nation turning, and for their contributions to the economy.
The Opposition, he assured the House, will not falter in giving its full support to the workers, including those in the rice and sugar sectors. And on that score, he said the Opposition will strongly fight any attempt to sell out or close down the sugar industry.
He also said the assertion that the budget provides a good life is a misnomer, in that “the good life” was started under the PPP.
Rohee said the high crime rate and slowdown in business are in no way reflective of the good life being touted by the government, since the small man is feeling the squeeze.
The taxi drivers, coconut and street vendors and small-hotel owners, among others are feeling the squeeze, the said, and challenged the government side of the House to go into the streets and hear about their suffering.
Rohee warned that the government will not get the respect of the Opposition unless it demonstrates that it can govern fairly and effectively.
In lamenting the crime situation, he informed Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan that the former Administration had crafted a policy to deal with piracy and he (Ramjattan) should utilise it in addressing the problem.
The rise in crime, he said, has driven fear into many Guyanese, and many feel unsafe in light of all that has been happening.
On Wednesday, Minister Ramjattan said the government recognised some good projects by the former Administration and chose to continue with those and discontinue those that were opposite.
He also said that deflating the upsurge in crime will take time, but he pointed out that the situation did not begin under the current government, but under the former Administration.
While acknowledging that there has been an upsurge in crime, he suggested that members on the Opposition benches have no moral authority to blame him.
COMPLICIT
Former Minister of Public Service Jennifer Westford, who is now a member of the Opposition, he said, has been charged with committing a crime — the fraudulent transfer of State vehicles to her family and friends.
He said crime is fuelled by high unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and illegal guns in the streets, among others. He said the Administration will be implementing social programmes to create employment, so as to address this worrying situation.
The Administration of the Police Force, the minister said will be strengthened, and this among other things will boost the morale of officers and encourage them to give of their best.
He also said strong emphasis will be placed on building capacity in the Police Force and strengthening the criminal justice system.
Ramjattan also informed the House that greater attention will be placed on strengthening the police administration, training and identifying crime hotspots and conducting regular patrols.
Ranks will also be deployed in areas most in need and more vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicles, and boats among other equipment will be given to the police to fight crime.
And added to this, over 100 surveillance cameras will be installed in and around the city to aid crime-fighting there. Some 50 per cent of crimes are committed in the city.