By Svetlana Marshall

“We are breaking the backs of criminal gangs,” Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told US-based Guyanese in Brooklyn, New York earlier this week.
He was at the time responding to concerns raised about the murders and robberies that have occurred here. Crime and security were among the key issues raised by Guyanese living in the US during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to New York. Many expressed the desire to return home in May for the grand Independence Celebration but are concerned about the crime situation.
The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has alleged that crime is spiraling out of control but Prime Minister said the “situation is no worse” than it has been over the years. It was alleged that many of the violent crimes are being committed by a particular ethnic group, but the Prime Minister said crime has no face.

“When they showed the photographs of those who were involved in Bath and Bush Lot it was the reverse. Crime does not have race; criminal activities don’t have any class preference”, Nagamootoo said while referring to Berbician teens, Gocoul Madanpaul and Nazamadeen Raffick who were recently charged for the murders of 81-year-old businessman, Doodnauth Rajkumar, and his reputed wife, Dianne Chammanlall, of lot 93A Bush Lot.

They have also been fingered in murder arson committed on Anita Baichan, 49, whose home was torched following a burglary at her Bath Settlement home.
The Prime Minister said although the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government has been in Office for less than eight months, the new Administration would have inherited the crime situation but has been putting the requisite systems in place to strengthen the Guyana Police Force and other law enforcement agencies.

However, he added that “there are still too many rogue cops in the Police Force, many rogue cops in the security services,” Nagamootoo said. He said Government through the Public Security Ministry has been clear regarding weeding out “bad eggs in the Force.”

“If your force can’t protect you, you have to remove those who are contaminating the good name of those brave people who put their lives on the line for us,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said.

In alluding to the systems put in place to beef up the security system, the Prime Minister said the Government has “resurrected” the National Security Committee with meetings being held every Monday with the President, Prime Minister, the Commissioner of Police, the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Head of the Defence Board and Head of the Intelligent Services.

On a weekly basis, the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Williams and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan submit reports to the Ministry of the Presidency on the state of crime and security in the country. To “break the backs of criminals” ‘Operation Dragnet’ was launched with the aim of reducing crimes and simultaneously regaining the confidence of the public.

The Prime Minister said too that the Government is also going after the “bigger fishes,” pointing out that 11 forensic audits are currently being conducted by a committee head by Dr. Clive Thomas.

“We are soliciting the support of Scotland Yard and other outside agencies to help us to build the case of successful prosecution,” he noted.