By Svetlana Marshall
APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Jennifer Wade has said that although crime remains a major problem in Guyana, more criminals are now being placed before the courts.On Tuesday last in the National Assembly, in rebutting claims by the Opposition that crime is spiralling out of control, Wade said: “Mr. Speaker, we are receiving lectures now from the Opposition on how to solve crime. I want to remind them the crime-spree started in 2000, and though the British Government offered its support to Guyana, the past Government declined — or must I say refused — the assistance.”
Wade said that during the period 2002-2008, crime in Guyana had become a nightmare, with more than 500 persons having been killed at the hands of criminals.
“A minister was killed, a diplomat was kidnapped…and the minister responsible at the time refused to resign,” she told the House.
The APNU+AFC Parliamentarian assured the National Assembly that the Government would create a safer Guyana.
“Policing groups have been formed in various areas, and these men and women are in uniform carrying out their duties daily, working along with the police in the region. It must be noted that our Government is working assiduously to develop safety for all,” she said. As such, she continued, the sum of $24.6B has been budgeted this year for the development and modernization of the security sector.
“This budget has all the ingredients needed to transform the economy, and that we will do. I profoundly say it is a people’s budget,” she said.
However, she admitted that it will not be an easy task to transform the economy.
RICE
She alluded to the rice industry and said: “This Government inherited a broken rice system. I told the previous Government that, in the rice industry, there was a crisis. I said to them it is time to recognize the plight of the farmers, and that there is need for the implementation of a plan to aggressively market Guyana’s rice.”
The APNU+AFC Parliamentarian said despite claims of higher paddy yields and increase in production, the rice industry is on “shaky ground.” However, she assured the House that Government would stabilize the industry. She noted that new partners are being sought in an effort to cushion the impact of the fallen Venezuela market.
SUGAR
Like rice, Wade said, sugar will continue to play a critical role in the country’s economy. Government, in an effort to keep the sugar industry afloat, has budgeted $9B for that industry; but, she said, “the yearly bail-out, the poor health of the industry, the aged machinery and buildings, high production cost, weakened sugar prices, and the multi-billion-dollar white elephant in Skeldon” remain major obstacles in the path of development.
Wade, who represents Region Five in the National Assembly, said her district will benefit from an improved drainage and irrigation system, and better infrastructure in areas of agriculture, health and education.
CRITICISED
But Wade’s analysis of the crime situation was criticised by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Adrian Anamayah, who told the House that crime in Guyana is “out of control.” He opined that as it spirals out of control, the Government of the day has no solution at hand.
“I will concede that the PPP/C had a high crime rate, but now it is out of control,” he posited.
The PPP MP claimed that residents and stakeholders are now calling for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to step down.
The police have, however, reported on Thursday that serious crime has decreased by 6%. The report said, too, that there have been 14 murders so far for this year, but eight of the 14 alleged killers are in jail awaiting trial.
The Bharrat Jagdeo Administration had rejected a comprehensive UK-funded security sector reform programme in 2009.
Contrary to Anamayah, who believes that the $230B Budget lacks vision, Wade told the House that the budget captures the intent and fulfillment of the promises made in the APNU+AFC Manifesto.
