THE recent spate of serious crimes leading up to Guyana’s 50th Golden Jubilee was of concern to the society. Citizens expressed fear and organisations called on the Government and the Guyana Police Force to get the crime situation under control. At the same time, the Force sought to inform the public that serious crimes were not increasing but decreasing. It provided statistics showing that in April 2016 serious crime decreased by 19 percent in comparison to April 2015. Though statistics provide evidence and offer a guide, scientific insights and analyses on subject matters, where fear, real or perceived, exist, statistics can be ignored. It is this complex situation in which the police and society found themselves. This to some extent informed conversations that serious crimes are on the increase and such will have negative impact on the jubilee celebration, persons will be attacked, and overseas-based Guyanese and visitors coming for the celebration were risking their lives.
Concern about the crime situation was also seized on as an opportunity for political barbs. There is a perplexing feature of Guyanese culture, where it is not uncommon to find persons deriving gratification from unpleasant situations, which may be worthy of academic attention. Crime, regardless of political association, location, identity or socio-economic status hurts everyone, yet it is seized upon as opportunity to prognosticate doom for the country.
When the Force, in its 3rd May press statement, responded to public angst and outlined a detailed strategy to ensure efficient security during the independence celebrations, this was a significant approach in policing. It is either a first in its public relations policy, or where the society has come to see the Force as having an adversarial relationship with the public, is inclined to think this display of respect marks a first.
In the instant statement, it was made known a number of the planned initiatives for the celebrations, such as: additional manpower deployment, particularly in tourist hotspots, increased patrols along the East Bank Demerara corridor and other major arteries; increased collaboration with the Force’s auxiliaries and other partners; increased vigilance at all the Ports of Entry; increased immigration deployment at the ports for the faster processing of passengers; escorts and close-protection will be provided for VIPs; efforts to maintain traffic enforcement to prevent congestion and deal with drunk driving and speeding; and Operation Dragnet activities that benefit from Joint Services collaboration will increase.
Whether all or some of the above were fulfilled and to what extent, though the society needs to know, the Guyana Police Force ensured a relative incident-free jubilee and is deserving of commendation. Of course, when the Force messes up the society is quick to point this out and hold officers to account, rightly so, given that their job is to serve and protect. At the same time, when the Force lives up to its motto, it is deserving of public gratitude. On the matter of day-to-day management, the Force has advised that it is engaging in capacity-building, improving partnership relations (domestic and foreign), modernising crime fighting and solving techniques, and has increased personnel. Without being laboured by the details to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, going by recent efforts, results and the just concluded anniversary events, such are worthy of being maintained and where possible, improved and expanded.
Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud has been vocal within recent days as to what he considered acts by the previous government that stymied the Force being able to perform at its optimum. It is believed that Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has taken note and is taking action to correct the anomalies. The recent experiences are bearing testimony that with institutional strengthening and support, the Force can deliver for the society and bring about the required security people need to go about their daily business. When persons feel secure in their environment they are less inclined to want to migrate, there will be improvement in police/community relations, businesses are more inclined to invest, and those who want to engage in criminal activities will be forced to rethink such actions. To the members of the Guyana Police Force, it is fair to say for the jubilee celebrations: ‘Yours was a job well done …keep up the good work!’